ISSUE NO.15 Editor Kristie Webster kristie@ponyanarchy.com
COVER Photography: Peter Baumann Model & Styling: Maria Kn
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Contents Feature: Fun Finds Page 05 Interview: Pixie Nut & Co.
Page 06
Interview: Kim Churchill Page 09 Interview: Claire Wakeford
Page 12
Cotton Candy Ice-cream by Peter Baumann
Page 14
Interview: Barbara Tamilin
Page 22
Interview: She Is Aphrodite
Page 24
Interview: Fawn & Rose
Page 26
Selinda by Claire Wakeford
Page 28
Interview: Allie Runnion
Page 35
Interview: Broods Page 36 Interview: Simone Rudloff Page 39 Feature: Esthe SS19 Page 40 Interview: Ashley Jensen Page 45 Wild Child by Simone Rudloff
Page 48
Interview: Ah Trees Page 55 Interview: Tegan Iversen Page 59
ART. MUSIC. PHOTOGRAPHY. FASHION. | PONYANARCHY.COM
Lovely Linen Studio
Four Eyes Ceramics
Nice Things Palomas
ayesha aggarwal
Lovely Linen Studio is a small family sewing workshop based in Ukraine. Creating handmade pieces for women, the label focuses on attention to detail and each garment is made from organic European linen.
Four Eyes Ceramics is a collection of porcelain jewelry and other ceramic pieces, inspired by color and shape, a mix of organic and geometric. All pieces are handmade by designer Jenny Rush in her Ohio studio.
Run by mother and daughter duo, Paloma Santaolalla and Paloma Lanna, Nice things is an enduring fashion project creating a universe of creativity, femininity, positivism and style.
Ayesha Aggarwal is an Indian born, Australian based artist creating decorative, functional pieces with bold, graphic designs. No two pieces are ever made exactly alike, so anything you buy from her is truly one-of-a-kind.
www.etsy.com/shop/LovelyLinenStudio
www.foureyesceramics.com
www.nicethingspalomas.com
www.ayeshaaggarwal.com
Nice Digs
Man In The Studio
KITSU
Wolf & Mishka
Melbourne pet accessories label, Nice Digs offers high quality lifestyle goods for the discerning modern dog owner. Their philosophy is to combine durability and contemporary design that complements the home.
Man in the Studio produces handmade linen loungewear and nightwear for women. Founded in 2017 and based in Lithuania, MITS create high comfort pieces to be worn at home, in bed, or travelling around the globe.
KITSU is an Australian brand producing individually handcrafted jewellery. Made in Melbourne, all products are produced locally and ethically by designer Jessica Maree in her Brunswick East studio.
Wolf & Mishka is a Melbourne-based design label passionate about creating unique hand illustrated printed fashion, accessories and jewellery. All pieces are made with love and designed to be treasured for years to come.
www.nicedigs.com.au
www.maninthestudio.com
www.kitsu.com.au
www.wolfandmishka.com.au
Pixie Nut & Co We chat to Illustrator & DESIGNER, Philippa Nilant about her creative background and super cute LABEL, Pixie Nut & Co. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become an illustrator/ designer. I grew up in Perth, moved to Melbourne for 3 years and now I live on a community in Nimbin. When I was a kid I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer or an artist. I was always making things, drawing and sewing, inventing little fashion label names and stuff. My mum had a small business selling speciality paints and she would also do workshops at schools and markets selling things she made like painted table cloths, mugs and cushions and I made these little painted fish badges and they sold really well! After school, I studied sewing and pattern making at TAFE and then went to WAAPA to learn set and costume design. After that, I sort of gave up creative things for a few years and worked with kids at a Steiner kindy. One day after looking at some of Phoebe Wahls beautiful books and illustrations, I was just like – I’m gonna do that! So I decided I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator but realised that it was super difficult. At that time I was inspired by all the small creative businesses I saw on Instagram and decided to give that a go. Can you tell us a little about your label Pixie Nut & Co. and the inspiration behind it? My label is focused on earrings with a side of clothing and other bits and bobs but I’m focusing more on fabric at the moment. I started Pixie Nut and Co in late 2016 with just some cards and intended to do mostly stationary. Around the time I was really into the Australian outback so I naturally focused on that as my subject matter and people responded really well to that so it stuck I guess. I started making earrings from shrinky dinks and people loved them but it was really time-consuming to make and I didn’t like using plastic so I was really happy when I found somewhere to manufacture my charms on wood and then Pixie Nut really started to take off. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process and what materials you use in your work? I design in my head, ideas will come to me and I’ll think yes or no and then work on it mentally – the colours, shapes, everything and once I think I’ve got it I’ll try and translate the ideas into sketches and then paintings from that. I mostly
use gouache paint which I describe as something in between watercolours and acrylic but sometimes I play a bit with coloured pencils and crayons like in my latest fabric print, Road Trip. What would we find you doing when you’re not making pieces for Pixie Nut & Co? I spend a lot of time visiting friends on the community, it’s nice to live around so many other creative people, its a really good vibe in our little rainforest valley. I’m just about to buy a house here which needs a bit of work so my partner and I have been designing the interior and are going to be building a kitchen, adding some windows and doors and making wall panels with a mixture of sand, sawdust & cement. A few of our friends are in similar situations, building or extending their homes, so we want to do building swaps and share knowledge with each other along the way. Are you working on any new illustrations or designs at the moment? I’m at the end of designing a new fabric which features flowers in vases but I do have lots of other design ideas brewing away, I actually want to do a fabric print which is based around on our community – rainforest plants and little hand made houses and people, I think it’d be really cute. What do you wish you knew about being an illustrator/ designer before you got started? I wish I knew that I didn’t have to be a super amazing artist. I’ve always been pretty confident in my design skills but felt I fell short when it came to painting and the technical skill of it. But I realised that I actually really love naive style art so I don’t need to make stuff look realistic, it’s more about creating unique and aesthetically pleasing illustrations. You don’t need to be an amazing, talented artist to be successful! Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? Emily Imeson (@emilyimeson), Lucy Hersey (@lucehersey) and Zak Tilley (@zak.tilley) are three amazing artists to look out for! What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Fake it till you make it. It slowly dawned on me that when most people start their own business or become an illustrator or anything, they don’t know what they’re doing. You just have to get out there and try it out, there’s no real guideline, you have to make it up. Don’t think – I can’t do that – because you probably can if you give it a good crack! You can see more of Philippa’s work at pixienutandco.com.au or @pixienut
Kim Churchill We chat to folk singer-songwriter, Kim Churchill about his new project & what he loves the most about touring. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what path led you to music? My mum was a potter and an artist in London, and after moving to Australia to be with my dad, continued to weave art and creativity through everything she did. She started learning the guitar when I was four or five and immediately began teaching me as well. I went with her to different choirs and would sing along, it all stemmed from that basically. I always figured music was what I was going to do. When I was 17, I bought a camper van and left Merimbula, the small coastal town where I grew up and hit the road playing folk festivals and busking. It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind since then. For those who haven’t listened to your music before - how would you describe your sound? It’s folky with a lot of energy. There’s a pop sensibility to the songs and I always try and communicate a lesson or realization I’ve had in my own life and the way it’s made me feel. Your latest project, which includes a collection of four EP’s, saw you collaborate with local artists and producers in Germany, Canada, Australia and the UK. Can you tell us a little about that experience? It’s been a really liberating and truly wild and exciting experience. All up, I think, there will be around 27 songs and it’s been nice to have the opportunity to write so many. Working with all the different producers and artists has kept it really fun and constantly morphing, often journeying into new sounds and styles I couldn’t have found on my own. The first EP from the collection, ‘I AM’, is due for release next month. Can you tell us about the inspiration or influences behind this EP? ‘I AM’ was recorded in Berlin with a house/hip hop producer named Vincent Kottkamp. The different worlds we both came from collided in this cool way, making the music sound very unique. I was really caught up with the excitement, colours and energy of Berlin.
It was the middle of summer last year and the World Cup was on. The streets were full and the forests were green and alive. It was really magical going into the studio each day and letting all of this flow through me into the music! Would you say travel has had a significant influence on your sound and the way you write songs? Absolutely! It’s a beautiful, cyclical relationship. I travel to play my music to people and the travel inspires the new music I then go and write. It’s a great opportunity to emotionally stimulate yourself as well and continually have influences to write about. Even the colours and vibe of a place seems to find its way into my melodies and chord patterns. I love watching the songs unfold and seeing elements of the places I’m visiting coming through. Which part of the music making process do you enjoy the most? Well, that’s hard to say but these days I really dig being in the studio. For a long time, I found it really difficult and would get anxious. Somehow I feel like I’ve moved past that now and just have a really damn good time making things. You’re about to embark on a world tour in celebration of your new EP - what do you love the most about touring? The gigs themselves are the most magical parts. Being surrounded by people who are open to your performance and having the opportunity to give them a wonderful evening. It’s a real joy to play and it’s definitely the highlight of every day. I also love exploring new places and having moments to immerse myself in a totally different culture. What’s something most people don’t know about you? I paint terrible watercolours. Do you have any advice for emerging songwriters/ musicians that are trying to break into the industry? Things won’t come easy and beware of situations when they do. The only way to get better is to not stop and not give up. The real growth comes when you fulfil this obligation in spite of challenges. Imitating other artists you love is fine early on but try to only use it as a set of clothes you’re trying on to get to a more honest and integral version of ‘you’. Never stop working towards your own thing. Find out more about Kim at kimchurchill.com or follow him at @kimchurchill1
Claire Wakeford We chat to Melbourne based photographer, Claire Wakeford about her beautiful imagery & where she finds creative inspiration. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become a photographer. I got my first serious camera when I was sixteen, that same year my sister had just passed her drivers test. We would go on long drives, stop on highways to jump fences and I would bring along my camera, so naturally these trips turned into photo days. It just kind of happened & I’ve been doing it ever since. How would you describe your photographic style? A mix of nudes, nature, colour and movement. Where do you find creative inspiration? It’s hard to say but words and phrases have become a trigger for me. like; wrinkle. wax sculptures. braids. a thousand different ways to cut an orange, sit in a chair, put on a jacket. Moles – a series. seeds and pits. Sticky. Depending on where I’m at, it can come from anywhere. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process? What cameras do you use? The ma jority of my work has been shot with close friends and loved ones, so these shared experiences are what drive and shift my approach when I’m shooting with them. I rarely have photos planned out before taking them, I mostly just look at my surroundings and search for light. So, I’m primarily just letting my intuition take over. My go-to film cameras are my Fuji GA645 (medium format) and my Canon EOS 500 (35mm).
Are you working on any new projects at the moment? I’m working on putting together a performance piece on unhealthy rituals, a devotions series based on a past self, and a few collaborations with ethical brands. What do you do when you’re not taking photos? I’m usually either waiting tables to pay rent, planning new shoots or spending time with nice pals. Lately I’ve also been trying to draw and write more. If you could collaborate with anyone who would it be? And why? Ohh probably Molly Steele or Ben Giles. Molly is a daring activist photographer who also jumps trains in her spare time. Ben makes these wild collage pieces which are vibrate and inventive. I’ve been dreaming of making mixed media photographs for the longest time. It would be a dream to work with either of them. Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? I’m lucky to have so many beautiful and creative friends that I get to crush on. Jessica Penny (writer), Brooke Jayne (photographer) and slowsmog (music). What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Trust your intuition and make the art that you want to see in the world. Do you have any tips for other aspiring photographers like yourself? Take risks, shoot a lot and often, don’t let yourself fall into deep funks of self doubt. Everyone, even the photographers you admire have the odd bad shoot/s. Get into the habit of taking mental photographs of the things you see in your everyday life. You don’t need to be behind a camera to learn how to see things differently. You can see more of Claire’s work at clairewakeford.com and @c_claire_e
COTTON CANDY ICE CREAM Photographer - Peter Baumann Model & Stylist - Maria kn
barbara tamilin We chat to Brazilian Graphic Designer & Illustrator, Barbara Tamilin about her work & the inspiration behind it.
physical exercises, bike ride, go to museums, eat and drink a lot! This kind of things. I love going to craft fairs and independent festivals. Are you working on any new projects at the moment? Last month I worked on an incredible (but still secret) project involving pattern design! I’m loving the results! In addition, some personal projects have taken more body and shape in recent weeks. What are your future goals and ambitions as an illustrator and graphic designer? I believe, like most illustrators, that my goal is to have a book published! I would also love to work on illustrations for clothing brands, lookbooks etc. It is a field that I have been increasingly approaching and falling in love with. Working with volunteer projects to help causes that I believe in would be wonderful and is something I’m beginning to do. What do you wish you knew about being an illustrator/ graphic designer before you got started? This is a difficult question! Maybe learn to be more patient with myself and others. Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? I’m always obsessed with some artist. This month particularly with the photographer Petra Collins. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Of all the advice people have given me, what struck me the most was to never stop observing and inspiring oneself. Often the creative world can become a cell, just like any other repetitive job. What I learned from myself, was to never think that you are already good enough, constantly seek new techniques and new styles.
Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become an illustrator/ graphic designer. My name is Barbara Tamilin and I am a Brazilian graphic designer and illustrator. I was born in a really small coastal town of Espírito Santo, in South-Eastern Brazil. At 18, I moved south to a big capital city and started to study Sociology, but after two years, I gave up. I started studying at the Federal Technological University of Paraná and today I work as a graphic designer and illustrator full time. Can you tell us a little about your work and the inspiration behind it? In my work, I approach everyday situations of women that I admire and follow. I see them as protagonists of my story, and how each carries a little of me in their features. I love to use organic shapes and various pink tones as a magical atmosphere, always with many textures and patterns. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process and what materials you use in your work? First of all, coffee and a good playlist! I start with a digital sketch of some initial idea or work with reference photographs. I usually use Illustrator for perfect shapes and photoshop for finalizing the details. In the last few years, I have only worked with digital illustration, although I love watercolour and gouache. What would we find you doing when you’re not making your art? Probably freaking out with some idea I need to put on paper! Just kidding. In my time free I do To see more of Barbara’s work visit barbaratamilin.com or @barbaratamilin
She IS Aphrodite We chat to Melbourne based photographer, Michelle Pitiris about Finding her style & persuing music photography full time. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become a photographer and stylist. Well, my name is Michelle but people call me Mish. I’m originally from North Qld but have been living in melbourne for the last seven years. I became interested in photography after doing film photography in grade 12 as a subject. I didn’t pick up a camera properly again until about 2011 and then in 2012 I decided to make a proper go at it. The styling element came in by accident and isn’t my primary focus but I do enjoy it. How would you describe your photographic style? I was talking to a friend about that today. I know that I have a style, I just can’t actually put a name on what it is. I just know, from what I have been told, is that my style is identifiable. If you have any idea what it is, please let me know! Where do you find creative inspiration? Usually from films (I am a massive cinephile), definitely from music and sometimes from magazines. I feel like I have synesthesia but for visuals. You have quickly become one of Australia’s most sought after music photographers. How has that changed your life since you started out in 2012? I definitely don’t feel like it’s been quick. It’s still taken me seven years to build up my network and to find what my style is. My life has changed the most in the last 18 months since I finally quit my retail life and went after photography full time. It makes such a difference to your mental health when you don’t loathe your life because you hate your job! So, even though I still get stressed from time to time, I’m still ridiculously grateful and happy with where I am now. What has been your most exciting career achievement to date? There’s been a couple things, but it would be a toss up between going on
tour with The 1975 and having my photo series Cherchez La Femme featured in one of the last Rolling Stone Australia editions. Can you tell us a little about your project ‘Cherchez La Femme’ and the inspiration behind it? It’s a photographic series I created to highlight some of the amazing women in the Australian music industry. It came up around the start of the metoo era. I wanted to put women in the spotlight in a positive and empowering way. If you could work with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be? And why? Ooh good question. Shit. So, so many. At the moment female wise, probably Billie Eilish, Robyn, Phoebe Birdgers or Fiona Apple. Male wise, Childish Gambino, Jeff Buckley, or Daniel Johns. They’re all artists I have the highest respect and adoration for the way they create and their output. What do you like to do when you’re not taking photos? Watch/listen to true crime. I’m ridiculously obsessed with the podcast My Favourite Murder at the moment, as well as watching Forensic Files on Netflix. Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? When I style I am always looking at what designers are coming out of graduation to see what fresh ideas are being represented. Bel Sorrentino (@belsorrentinodesigns), Alissar H (alissarh_) and Lilith Viper (@lilithviper) for designers. Daphne Nguyen (@daphnenguyen_), Duc (@ducthindong) and Natasha Killeen (@ahsatankilleen) are cool photographers. As for musicians, well we could be here all day. A couple I will say- Charlotte OC, Flower Drums and Annie Bass. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? It doesn’t matter how talented you are - if you’re a cunt no one is going to work with you. Do you have any tips for other aspiring photographers starting out? Find your own style, everything else is taken. Check out more of Michelle’s work at sheisaphrodite.com and @sheisaphrodite
Fawn & Rose We chat to UK Jewellery Designer, Jess Jones about her creative process & what initially drew her to jewellery design. Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. My name is Jess and I’m a jewellery designer from Brighton, now based in beautiful Norwich with my partner and toddler. I work out of a messy, dusty studio at the end of my garden. What drew you to jewellery design? I was working a super boring job when I graduated university - I had a degree in Photographic Arts and got a job shooting basic product shots for a shoe brand. It was very repetitive and sucked the joy out of photography for me. I needed a creative outlet, so I started putting together the odd piece of jewellery here and there. It was a slow start as I’m entirely selftaught, but gradually I began selling at local markets and it grew from there. How would you describe your designs? What makes them unique? My pieces are minimalist and design-led rather than trend-led. I like to use a variety of materials, and often mix mediums to produce something unique. Where do you find your creative inspiration? Industrial design, modern art and architecture play a large part in my creative inspiration. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process? What are your favourite materials to work with? For the most part, I use traditional silversmithing techniques to make the bulk of my jewellery, but I also create pieces from Jesmonite. This involves making a silicone mould and adding pigment to resin to produce beautiful colour palettes. It’s probably my favourite material to work with as it opens up so many possibilities when it
comes to form and texture. What do you do when you are not making jewellery? When I’m not working I’m supervising a hurricane in the form of my 18-monthold son! And for balance I go to yoga classes which soothe my brain and sort my body out after hours hunched over my workbench/toddler wrestling. How do you get out of creative ruts? It probably sounds counter-intuitive, but I stop making and do something else. Whether that’s ordering more postage boxes, organising my studio, or clearing my inbox. I can’t trick my brain into creating, I just distract myself and hope the next time I get in the studio it’s a more creative session. What advice would you give to someone interested in getting into the jewellery design? You can find a bunch of great tutorials on YouTube, that’s a good place to start. Workshops are also handy as most provide materials for you so you don’t need to shell out a lot of cash on tools etc. before you’re ready. Build on your skills as you go along, there’s no rush to do everything all at once. Are there any emerging designers, artists or other creatives are you loving right now? So many! Anna Mac makes the most pleasing paintings, Hey are an excellent design studio based in Barcelona, Little Dottie Designs produces gorgeous childrenswear, and I love Hannah Bould’s ceramics. Do you have a favourite piece from the SS19 Collection? The Sterling Silver Terrazzo Ring, as it’s just so fun to make and looks great on. Are you working on anything new at the moment? Yes, I’m looking to expand my product range into homewares and other accessories, it probably won’t be ready for quite some time but watch this space! To see more of Fawn & Rose head to fawnandrose.com and @fawnandrose
SELINA By Claire WakEford
Allie Runnion We chat to DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR, Allie RUnnion about FINDING CREATIVE INSPIRATION & What she’s working on at the moment. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I grew up north of Boston and went to the Rhode Island School of Design where I ma jored in Illustration. After graduating, I worked for several years as a designer and art director before recently pursuing illustration work professionally. Can you tell us a little about your work and the inspiration behind it? My work is very colorful and playful. I’m always finding inspiration in old things, especially vintage illustration and design. I particularly love the style of the 50s and 60s. I have great love of plants and animals, which always work their way into my illustrations. Old field guides are a great source of inspiration for me. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process and what materials you use? I love to work with traditional materials but I also like the flexibility of working digitally. Lately I’ve been using a combination of black ink, paint, and graphite on paper which I then color and compose in Photoshop. What would we find you doing when you’re not making your art? My husband and I own
an old house in Maine (built in 1850!). I like to work on design projects around the house and making it feel more like home. I also love to thrift/antique shop and work in our garden. Are you working on any new projects at the moment? Aside from ongoing client work, I’ve been participating in MakingArtEveryday whenever I have the time. This is an Instagram challenge created by Lisa Bardot (@lisabardot) with daily drawing prompts. I’ve found that creating regularly is so important to grow as an artist. What are your future goals and ambitions as an illustrator/graphic designer? I’d love to collaborate with more of my favorite brands on new products. Working with Anthropologie would be an absolute dream. Are there any particular projects that you have enjoyed working on the most? I can’t give a lot of detail yet, but last fall I worked on a pop-up book due out later this year. It was a great experience and so much fun to work on! Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? So many! I am always finding amazing new artists on instagram. Lately I am loving the work of Agathe Singer, Louise Cunningham, and Emily Taylor. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Don’t be afraid to share your work. To see more of Allie’s work visit allierunnion.com and @allierunnion
broods We chat to Georgia Nott, one half of New Zealand Indie-Pop duo Broods, about their latest album & upcoming tour. Congrats on the release of your third album, ‘Don’t Feed the Pop Monster’. For those that haven’t heard it yet - how would you describe it? A sonically eclectic guide through the retrograde/growing pains/life transitions. Who or what exactly is the ‘Pop Monster’? The “Pop Monster” is basically a new age version of “The Man”. Have you ever seen School of Rock? You gotta stick it to “The Man”! Haha. Its more or less the side of the music industry that wants you to be digestible and pleasant. Music, and all art for that matter, is supposed to be confrontational. Its supposed to make you ask questions. Its supposed to articulate things that aren’t easy to process. It is for the rebel and the misfits. Unlike your previous two albums, you weren’t signed to a label when you wrote ‘Dont Feed The Pop Monster’. Did that have an effect on how you approached the creative process this time around? I think the entire album was born out of the muddiness of that time. We were so displaced for a while there and it forced us to look inward. We wouldn’t have made this album if we didn’t go through trials in our careers and ourselves. I remember thinking “I know I’m supposed to be doing this, but it feels like everything is working against me”. I went walking around echo park lake and it was bursting with lotus flowers. I took it as a sign that if they could grow up and out of the mud, why couldn’t we do the same. I took it as a sign that we were still on the right track. As a whole, this album feels very personal and authentic. Lyrically, that really shines through on the track, “Too Proud”. Is it important to Caleb and yourself that topics such as mental health are spoken or sung about more often? Writing has always been
an essential part of processing the world. We both feel very deeply. When you live life taking a lot in, you have to get a lot out. Its like you’re breathing with the universe. Our experience of life is the inhale and music is the exhale. ‘Too Proud’ was also Caleb’s first time singing lead vocals on a Broods song. Is that something we’ll see more of in the future? You’ll have to stick around and see, I guess. Haha. Whilst writing this album, you both also released music under your respective solo projects The Venus Project (Georgia) and Fizzy Milk (Caleb) What is it like working on separate projects and then coming back together? It was important to have a new outlet for both of us. It definitely helped us grow as individual artist and made us appreciate our own dynamic. We’ve been making music together so long, we have our way of doing it so dialed in. We needed to shake it around and challenge ourselves. And it was fun to write a different kind of music too. You guys are touring the album around the US starting next month and then heading over here to Australia in May - what are you looking forward to the most about coming back to Aus? Aussie crowds are always so fun. We also feel a huge sense of support from Australia, coming from NZ. There’s something really special about playing in Australia. It feels like a homecoming in a way. We have a lot of love and appreciation for our fans and friends there. What do you think would you be doing if you weren’t making music? I would have self destructed. Favourite band or artist right now? This incredible band from the UK, Bad Sounds, is on tour with us right now and they are definitely the kinda vibe you want if you like a bit of boundary pushing pop. Finally, do you have any advice for emerging musicians trying to break into the industry? If you don’t want it with every fibre of your being, try something else. If you do, you’ll find a way to do it. To find our more about Broods head to broodsmusic.com or @broodsmusic
Simone Rudloff We chat to Australian Fashion Photographer, Simone Rudloff about HER CREATIVE PROCESS & goals for the future. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become a photographer. I’m Simone Rudloff, 26, born & raised in Byron Bay, Australia and currently living in Hamburg, Germany. When I was younger, I used to steal my dads analog camera and fill rolls of film with photos of my dog until I got a digital camera around the age of 13 and started shooting concerts and local bands. After finishing school, I went travelling around Europe and moved to London which developed my love for travel photography, people and fashion which I took with me to Hamburg, where I completed a 2.5 year photography apprenticeship and have been working freelance for the past 4 years. How would you describe your photographic style? Fun, quirky and imperfect. Where do you find creative inspiration? I love small, unnoticed moments – sun reflecting off a building as I drive past, catching someone smiling to themselves, spotting a lady beetle, or finding an eyelash on someones cheek. (Things like that inspire me more than looking at other peoples work – I feel like that’s sometimes counterproductive) Can you give us a little insight into your creative process? I usually overthink an idea and then do something completely different but end up with the result I wanted. If I hate a series while shooting it, it usually turns out to be my favourite. What do you do when you’re not taking photos? Meditate, drink wine, follow the sun, drink
coffee in my studio & travel in my van. What are your goals and ambitions as a photographer? I would love to shoot for iD and Dazed & Confused, and mostly I want to inspire young creatives the way I’ve been inspired by others. The feeling is unreal and if I could give that to another person, then all the doubts and frustration that come with being creative would be worth it. Are you working on any new projects at the moment? Yes! But I’ve learnt not to talk about things before they are set in stone otherwise you don’t end up doing them. You pick up compliments for the plan and don’t need to fulfill it anymore. But I just completed a big project – I renovated & opened a studio space together with my boyfriend (www.bloccstudio.de) If you could work alongside any photographer who would it be? And why? Driely Carter and Olivia Rose – both are so inspiring to me, not just because they create incredible work, but also because both women are so fierce and unapologetically themselves in their own ways. I would love to see how they work and I reckon they’re also just super fun to be around. Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? Driely Carter, Fabio Coverini, Aislinn Hanley. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? You do you, tiger. Do you have any tips for other aspiring photographers like yourself? Don’t mistake the noise for inspiration. Be patient with yourself during phases of feeling uncreative/uninspired – the longer you suffer, the more you flourish. Check out more of Simone’s work at simonerudloff.com and @simonerudloff
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Ashley Jensen We chat to Utah based Fashion Photographer, Ashley Jensen about her Beautiful imagery & where she finds creative inspiration.
taking photos? I’m usually exploring Utah or other cities/states and planning my next shoots. What are your goals and ambitions as an photographer? My ultimate dream would be to become a full time fashion and editorial photographer and travel the world! Are you working on any new projects at the moment? Currently I have some styled editorial shoots in the works with my team and I’m always planning where I can travel next. If you could work alongside any photographer who would it be? And why? Jason Lee Perry and Asher Moss are some my favorite photographers. I would love to work alongside them to see their creative process and what goes into their images. Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? There are so many! Carianne Older is a film photographer I’ve found recently and I’m in love with her work. I also shot some of Louiza Babouryan’s designs recently on a trip in LA and they are so so dreamy. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? One of my College Professors once said to photograph what scares you, and at that time it was people. So I started photographing portraits and I’m so glad I did because I haven’t stopped since! Do you have any tips for other aspiring photographers like yourself? Keep shooting! Even when you are not feeling inspired or creative. Also, try new things and don’t be afraid to put out different work than everyone else, that’s what sets you apart. A quote I live by is: “Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow” by Imogen Cunningham.
Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become a photographer. I am a film and digital photographer that recently moved from the East Coast to Utah. I received a film camera for my 16th birthday but I really fell in love with photography when I took a Black and White film photography class my freshman year in college. I loved the process so much and became a Photo Lab Monitor and have been shooting film ever since. How would you describe your photographic style? I would describe my photography as moody, editorial, and sometimes dreamy but also edgy at the same time. Where do you find creative inspiration? Everywhere...nature, art, music, fabric, clothing, pinterest and the team that I work with to name a few. My mind never stops dreaming up future photos. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process? What cameras do you use? I usually start with an idea and then I’ll make a moodboard for everyone to get a feel of the vibe we are going for. Then I will put together a team, usually a Stylist, Makeup Artist and Model(s). I usually shoot a mixture of both Digital and Film or lately just Film. My digital camera is a Canon 5D Mark IV. My film cameras are a Pentax K1000, Mamiya RB67 with a Polaroid back, Canon Elan 7, Polaroid To see more of Ashley’s work visit ashleyjensenphotography.com or follow her Originals OneStep+ and Fujifilm Instax Wide. What do you do when you’re not on instagram @ashleyjensenphotography
Josefina Schargorodsky We chat to Argentinian artist Josefina Schargorodsky about her nostalgic illustrations & the inspiration behind them. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become an illustrator and graphic designer. I grew up in a very small town where there wasn’t much to do apart from hanging out around the river. Because I was the littlest in my family I was always surrounded by grownups. My mom, grandmothers and aunt were very involved in teaching me a lot of stuff and buying me the best materials to paint. I was a very curious child and drew a lot, I really liked to work on very big canvases. When I finished school I moved to Buenos Aires to study fine arts. After one year doing that I was having a terrible time. I was a really bad student and wasn’t really interested in university. I changed ma jors to fashion design. That was a huge change in my life and my way of thinking. I can’t thank enough all the things I learnt in design school, they were super helpful for my career. Can you tell us a little about your work and the inspiration behind it? I think there are three mayor feelings I try to convey in my work. One is sensibility, in the way we are sensitive to life and the world that surrounds us. The second one is nostalgia. Special attention in aesthetics from past decades. The last one is female identity. Being a woman and all that comes with that, the special point of view we have as women in this society. I get inspired by everyday life and struggles but also films, lots of films. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process and what materials you use? At the moment I’m working mostly
digitally. I used to do all of my work with gouache but now I changed. I really like to paint though and I try to do it whenever I can. My process is very intellectual. I think a lot about my work. I like to be prepared and be practical. I usually don’t get into doing things without thinking about the outcome. I think ideas, sketch them, draw them and finally paint them (whether digitally or with paints) What would we find you doing when you’re not making your art? I try to keep hobbies that are not drawing related. I like to play the piano, go to swing dancing and bake. Are you working on any new projects at the moment? I’m always working in a few projects at the same time. Right now I’m in the early stages of my next book, preparing a speech I’m giving in Chile and doing lots of client work. What are your future goals and ambitions as an illustrator/graphic designer? I’d love to be a referent in the female community creating illustrations that are meaningful for women around the world. Also, I would love to illustrate a Hermes scarf. Are there any particular projects that you have enjoyed working on the most? I don’t know if there’s a favorite project per se. In every project there’s at least one part I enjoy the most. In books I love the first stages: planning, thinking about the drawings, making decisions to be committed throughout the book. In other projects I love the final stages: painting the final drawing and editing. Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? Right now I’m loving the works of Jay Fletcher, Eleanor Davis and Haley Tippman. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? I tend to get very worried about everything and my mother once said “no hay que preocuparse, hay que ocuparse” which means not to get worried but to do something about it. To see more of Josefina’s work visit josefinaschargo.com or @josefinaschargo
Wild child Photographer - Simone Rudloff Model - Alex @ PMA hair & makeup artist - Tini Sager stylist - Britt Dannert
Ah Trees We chat to Ah Trees frontman, Ryan Adair about the bands new single & their favourite thing about playing live shows. Can you tell us a little about Ah Trees and how you guys met? We’ve known most of each other for years, with the exception of Germy joining the band early last year. We’ve played in bands together over that time and what started as a little bedroom project turned into the beast that we are today. We all hung out in the same circles and when I needed bandmates to take Ah Trees out of the bedroom, a few cocktails and mixed drinks in a pool in Thailand later, Charles agreed to help and shortly after Harry too. We’ve since had members come and go on their own journeys, although the core unit has always stayed the same. We like to think of Ah Trees as one big extended family, people come and people go but we’ll always be a family, members past and present. For those who haven’t listened to your music before - how would you describe your sound? We used to describe it as music you could dance down a hallway too or drift away on a cloud, and though that still stands, we’re finding our sound is getting more angsty and aggressive while staying true to our late 80s soundscapes. Its big guitars, soaring synths, tight driving bass and drums with vocals reminiscent of the new wave generation of musicians. Who would you say are your biggest influences? Wide and varied, we all have such diverse tastes! The Cure, New Order, The Horrors, David Bowie, Hot Chip, Talking Heads, Mogwai, Dire Straits, Brian Eno, Siouxsie and The Banshees, The B-52s, Foals etc. That’s a small taste of my influences though honestly, we’d be here a long while if we mentioned them all! Can you tell us about your most recent single ‘Shark Bait’ and the story behind it? There’s no doubt we live in an age of fear. Every day we wake
up to more bad news. The internet age has become a festering boil of hate and ignorance, we have parents giving children bleach enemas to cure “autism”, the business of death is booming, forgetting history is our history and we’re living under constant threat of a new world war. The ones we should be scared of, the land sharks in their suits and their multiple houses, their anti-immigration views, misogyny, climate change denying ways, are rubbing themselves with delight while their purses get heavier and heavier. ‘Shark Bait’ is all of this burning venom sharpened to a point, a middle finger to all that ails us. Written in a single sitting, it’s our most literal song yet, there’s no sugar coating here, just as there’s no sugar coating our reality. The music is aggressive and fast, the urgency of our impending demise is not lost on us, but neither is our willingness to fight, and that’s the message we finish with. They will attack, we will fight back. The time for metaphors is over, choosing life isn’t politics, it’s just wanting to live. You guys released your debut single ‘Bodies’ in 2016, how much have your lives changed since then? Quite a bit, while at the same time not a whole lot. We’re still just a bunch of weirdos making music that both inspires us and helps us deal with the day to day mud that life can sling your way. We still love what we do though would be lying if we said it wasn’t challenging. Balancing life as we get older and keeping our heads above the water while still devoting most of our free time to do what we love. The world itself is changing quickly and dramatically and our lives are a reflection of that, I guess. Last year was one of the more challenging years we as a band have had to experience. A lot of bad luck all seems to come at me at once, from drink spiking to broken ribs more than once, a severely broken finger and surgery on my thyroid that put my musical life right on the ropes. Shit was scary. However, we got through it together with the support of each other, luck turned and here we are in 2019 releasing more music, playing more shows and doing what we love. So I feel really lucky.
Which part of the music making process do you enjoy the most? The initial moments of creativity, when you feel you’re onto something and the obsession that follows. We record/mix/produce our own tracks, so we really do love that process, especially the mixing. That’s a time of really bending and pulling/ pushing ourselves creatively, to see what kind of monster we’re going to be left with when we finally pull ourselves away and say “ok, I think we’re good”. It’s challenging and time-consuming though I think that’s why we love it - and we grow from those experiences every time. You guys have been busy playing headline shows as well as supporting the likes of Northeast Party House, Gypsy & The Cat, Jeremy Neale, Tired Lion & Katy Steele. What do you love the most about playing to a live audience? We spend a lot of time in isolation working on our craft and as all creatives know, there’s brilliant highlights but also deep shadows of doubt and questioning whenever you’re creating something new. When we play live to an audience all that doubt and worry leaves as soon as we hit the stage, when we get to live in the moment with the audience and our friends and not think about anything but just feel. It always shocks me when I see people dancing and singing along to our lyrics. It’s cathartic and it’s vindicating, and we know full well without the people in the audience we’re nothing. We owe a great deal to the people who come out to our shows and we’re eternally grateful. What else do you guys have planned for this year? We’ll be releasing new music and have a couple of live videos we’ve shot that we will be releasing. We’re also in the midst of planning another Australian tour for later this year. As
it is now, we’re standing on the precipice of a new release, so really, anything could happen! Are there any emerging musicians/artists that you are loving right now? It’s great to see the wider music industry starting to really take notice about the amount of crazy talented artists we have out in the west. Isolation breeds this intensity in our music scene and the passion is incredible. Airline Food’s latest single is awesome, and I can’t wait to see what they do next. Then there are artists like Your Girl Pho and Jamilla who are really starting to get the recognition they deserve (if you haven’t checked out Jamilla’s latest music video for her song ‘Bloom’ stop what you’re doing and check it out). Feels duo Rosie and Elise are just back from South By Southwest and had an incredible time, not to mention all they do as the founders of WOMPP. There’s a lot going on and apologies to those I’ve missed, though there is a whole heap of rising WA talent that is fresh and exciting! What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? Do what you love today, you could be dead tomorrow. Do you have any advice for emerging songwriters/musicians like yourselves that are trying to break into the industry? Be true to yourself, ask yourself what you want to do and be determined cause nothing is handed out for free. It’s all about the journey, not the destination (something we try to remind ourselves often), and most of all have fun and make sure you look after yourself, no one else will! Check out Ah Trees at soundcloud.com/ah-trees and @ah_trees
Tegan IversEn We chat to Melbourne ARTIST Tegan Iversen about her colourful ILLUSTRATIONS and What she’s working on at the moment. Tell us a little about yourself and what path lead you to become an illustrator. I’m a twenty-five-year-old gal who’s lived in Essendon (Melb, Australia) for pretty much my whole life. I love 80s tunes & films, cute things like Kewpie dolls & Pusheen, having a dance & oh, of course, I love drawing & making stuff! I studied Fine Art at the Victorian College of the Arts & have since just kept creating art & illustration work. Can you tell us a little about your work and the inspiration behind it? My work is colourful, fun, cute & honest. I am mostly inspired by experiences & things that surround me, such as food, flowers & also feelings I have. Can you give us a little insight into your creative process and what materials you use? I always start with drawing using a fineliner or biro onto white paper, I then often use digital techniques, through first scanning my drawing & then colouring & arranging the composition using Photoshop. Sometimes I paint, mostly using acrylics. I also keep a few sketchbooks/visual diaries, in which I write notes & ideas, sketch little things & keep small items & photos for inspiration. What would we find you doing when you’re not making your art? Maybe going for a walk around my neighbourhood, seeing a movie at
the cinemas, babysitting my cute little cousins or hanging out with mates; eating snacks, having a wine & some good chats. Are you working on any new projects at the moment? Currently working on some illustrations for a collaboration I’m doing with my mum - we’re doing a children’s book together, woohoo! What are your future goals and ambitions as an illustrator? Keep making work that I like & am proud of & that people relate to & feel joy from. I would also love to make bigger & better work & paint a large mural somewhere, that would be fun! Are there any particular projects that you have enjoyed working on the most? Recently I created some illustrations to go on wine labels for Hop Nation’s Site Fermentation project. Creating artwork that then went onto tasty cans of wine (yes omg wine in a can, say what?) was super exciting! Are there any budding artists, photographers or designers that you are loving right now? Yes! I love Sam Stevens’ beautiful text embroidery works, I’m so lucky to own one of their incredible works (instagram: @onlythreespoons), gal pal Naomi Barnes takes amazing pics, she recently took some very cute pics of me, if I do say so myself (instagram: @naomimegcreative) & if you’re after colourful, fun, handmade, rainbow clothing my mate Danni has you covered (instagram: @_awkward_ apparel_). What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? “If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no” You can see more of Tegan’s work at teganiversen.com or @teganiversen
