Life + Style - 17 July 2020

Red Lounge Sessions Page 2-3 THE WEEKEND

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life+style The Weekend Sun 21 2015 17August, July, 2020

Red Lounge Sessions Rachael “Rozella” Stanway

Sitting perched on stools sipping coffee with a friend outside Luca one afternoon, I was suddenly aware he was grinning at something behind me.

Turning, I caught a flurry of red hair as a woman sped past pausing briefly to push a flyer into his pocket. She zoomed on down Mount Mainstreet, popping flyers into other people’s bags and pockets, gaily waving and spreading a sense of excitement and vibrancy. Who was she? I seized the flyer and read it.

Little did I know back then but I’d struck the vein of creative gold that runs through the Mount community. Quietly humming away behind the scenes are musicians, artists, poets and very creative people who love to spend time together enjoying music and just hanging out. It’s a mix of bohemian free-spirit, Kiwi can-do, the joy of life, and a welcoming attitude to all, organically growing and spreading through people who enjoy beachside living and getting to know each other.

Rachael “Rozella” Stanway is the brainchild behind the Red Lounge Sessions and one of the pumping hearts at the hub of this arty, friendly subculture. She with the red hair and her lamp collection opened her Marine Parade home in about 2009 for her friends to come and share an evening house party of music around a brazier. And so the Red Lounge Sessions was born.

“It was really just put on for my friends,” says Rachael.

“My friend Matt met some English guys busking on the street and said I should see if they want to come and play at my house. We had about 30 friends come over and a DJ played light mellow music after them.

People mixed and mingled and I thought ‘there’s something in this’. Word soon got out and people asked ‘I heard about this party you put on, are going to have more?’”

I don’t think Rachael fully realises the excitement and vibrancy that she brings to this community. A Mount native, she’s been organising house parties since she was 13. Over the past six years, she’s run about 17 Red Lounge Sessions, from small home events, to transporting 60 people to the unique Falls Retreat in the Karangahake Gorge for champagne, canapes, and jazz, to holding popular shows at Totara Street for a few hundred people. She always has at least three performers at each event, with stunning lighting and visuals, and that special, oldschool hosting. The stylish Red Lounge Sessions also showcase emerging talent.

“It’s a complete mishmash. At one show we had a solo performer on acoustic guitar, then a punk band and finished with a DJ.” She adds life to everyone else’s lives, creating memories that are full of music, classy warmth, and the mellow glow of laughter and comradery.

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17 July, 2020

“She with the red hair and the red lamp opened her Marine Parade home back in about 2009 for her friends to come and share a house party evening of music around a brazier.

The Red Lounge Sessions were born”

and décor, Rachael’s rare and often peculiar finds become part of her fabulous event and stage styling which surprise and captivate all the senses.

“I enjoy collecting unique things like a naked reclining mannequin with a vintage butcher’s apron and German gas mask.

“We want people to have a warm friendly experience, from when they’re greeted at the door until they leave.”

She plays hostess superbly well, mingling and ensuring everyone is having a good time. It’s all about helping people make connections that go beyond the Red Lounge Sessions. There’s an intimacy that allows regular attendees to catch up while those new to the scene get the opportunity to connect with others.

Once you’ve attended a Red Lounge Sessions event you’ll be in the know for early bird tickets for other, underground or exclusive events ranging from roaming road tours, to pop-up recording studios and house parties.

The next Red Lounge Session is set for Saturday, August 8 at Totara Street. The line-up includes DJ sets, a Burlesque performance, a band, and a visual show by Naomi Lamb aka The Wanderer, supporting the onstage acts with live visual projections throughout the evening.

Emerging talent Jimmy Fresh is opening the show. An established, talented artist and photographer, hailing from Whakatane, Jimmy

‘Rozella Presents’ are giving away a double pass to the Red Lounge Session on August 8 to a Weekend Sun reader who can answer the question “Name one of the artists performing at the next Red Lounge Session.” Go to the Competitions page on www.theweekendsun.co.nz to enter the draw. Entries close Friday 28 July.

Fresh will play an hour set of melodic techno to warm up the dance floor.

Raglan’s Blue Sapphire Electro Swing Collective are a flamboyant group including live vocals, DJ and performance artists. Their heavy vintage dance floor tunes combine with sassy burlesque to add a modern twist to speak easy era styling.

Their place in the line-up is set to ensure a banging performance both classy and entertaining that adds an enticing party atmosphere to yet another Red Lounge Session.

Kong Fooey, from Auckland is a three-piece band with an original fusion of vintage funk, neo soul, hip hop and electronica. Having played alongside some of New Zealand’s leading international acts, Kong Fooey and his crew are ready to set the dance floor alight.

Nelson’s Mamadafunk will close out August’s Red Lounge Session with an eclectic multigenre DJ set ranging from funky beats to soulful dance floor tunes. Her curated sets portray her infectious sense of fun and humour to create a magical dance session you won’t want to end.

Tickets on sale now from – Eventspronto.co.nz/ Rozella Rosalie Liddle Crawford

life+style The Weekend Sun 3

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17August, July, 2020 life+style The Weekend Sun 21 2015

The untold story of a funeral director A lot of 22-year-olds spend their weekends with friends or at a bar or club but one Tauranga man spent his helping at a funeral home.

Many may think this is a bit macabre but for Marco Vianello it was a way to test the waters and see if funeral directing was the right path for him.

Fast forward five years and Marco is a full time funeral director for Legacy Funerals.

The 27-year-old has experienced a lot so far, he lost his father at seven and another four close family and friends before the age of 20.

“I’m young, but I’ve experienced a lot more than some people. I think that kind of experience, life experience can sort of just speak for itself,” says Marco.

“I like to be able to offer comfort and help to people. Probably because of my dad passing away, you understand vulnerability in those sorts of times, and it’s nice to be able to offer help.”

He is the youngest funeral director in Tauranga by about 10 years and sometimes people are surprised by his age.

“People maybe a bit hesitant at the start. I’m not cocky, but confident in what I do.”

Marco has always done jobs that are traditionally out of his age bracket.

His first job out of high school was as a

projectionist threading 35mm film onto a projector, then he was a heavy machine operator and truck driver.

“I got a lot of stick for being young and sort of told you’re too young for this, you don’t get it but that just adds to the challenge.”

Serving the community is also a large part of Marco’s life, he has been a volunteer for St John and Fire and Emergency.

“I’ve always been drawn to those jobs where you’re helping people. The best part about being on the ambulance is those conversations that you have with people.”

Marco says he didn’t want to be a paramedic full time because he didn’t want to go to serious car crashes and doesn’t like the “blood and guts”.

“It wasn’t because I was a bad paramedic that I had to become a funeral director,” he jokes.

“I often try and look at how I ended up here and why I ended up here.

“I sort of came into it because I thought people looked smart wearing a suit and I wanted to help people,” he says with a smile.

“There’s a lot of people that feel like this is a calling in their life, but to be quite honest with you, the people that think it’s a calling before they get into the job, don’t stay around for long.”

For someone who doesn’t like public speaking Marco is very engaging as he speaks about the ins

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life+style The Weekend Sun 5 Photos: Daniel Hines

“Our job is predominantly about helping the living as well as being a guardian for the deceased”

and outs of his role. His passion for the job and the families he deals with is palpable.

“Our job is predominantly about helping the living as well as being a guardian for the deceased.”

Funeral directing means he is often on call and quite happily takes 3am calls about photos for a slide show or flowers for the service.

He likens planning a funeral to planning a wedding but you’re planning a celebration of someone’s life in just three or four days as opposed to the months and years that can go into wedding planning.

“For a funeral director, that can be incredibly tolling and then you’ve got, not that families would ever know, but you could have two or three families a week.

“You never ever let a family know that because as far as they’re concerned, they’re the only person that’s lost someone.”

Marco loves the stories he hears about people and the accomplishments throughout their lives.

“I always come back to it. I love the stories and they break your heart sometimes, but learning about people who live in sleepy little Tauranga who have just done incredible things in the world.”

He did a service for a 104-year man who did photography and the turnout was massive, with people sharing memories of the school photos he had taken of them. He also released a photography

book of his aerial work.

“There’s people that don’t have a whole lot, but just gave and gave and gave and all these people show up and everyone wants to talk about them and everyone wants to share their experiences.

“It’s just incredibly humbling - there’s more to life than just material wealth and material goods.”

Legacy general manager Kiri Randall agrees that the stories are what make the job worthwhile.

“People forget that we do what we do for the living and the stories that you hear about how people have lived is just amazing.”

Although Marco is not 100 per cent sure how he ended up is a funeral director he finds great fulfilment in his work.

“I don’t know how I ended up here, but I’m Alisha Evans glad I am.”

Marco Vianello

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July, 2020 life+style The Weekend Sun 2117August, 2015

Mikk and Dad Making a Dad-and-Daughter YouTube channel Dancing, food fights, dress-up and self-defence are only a few features of Craig and Mikkayla Leckie’s action-packed YouTube channel.

The dad-and-daughter duo from Mount Maunganui have been uploading to their channel, My Hat is Awesome, for almost two years.

In that time, they’ve created more than 50 videos and accumulated over 40,700 views – it’s become a part of their lifestyle.

“We film on Saturdays,” says Craig.

“I go to Mikkayla’s house after work twice a week and we go for a run, and edit our videos.”

The antics come quite naturally to the close-knit pair, who’ve always enjoyed the humorous side of life.

“I’ve never thought ‘oh I’m too old for this’ or ‘too cool for that’, I just enjoy having fun,” says Mikkayla, who’s 26.

“I think I get it from Dad. If we walk on the beach and a shell looks cool, we’ll still pick it up.

We haven’t lost the wonder for life.”

It’s something Craig lives by.

“There’s a great quote: ‘don’t let growing up ruin the adventure’.

“Having my daughters taught me that you’re never too old to play and have fun.”

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It seems fitting, then, that Mikkayla works as an early childhood teacher.

Craig’s job as a copier technician may seem more left of field, but driving between jobs presents the perfect opportunity for last-minute prop buying.

Mikkayla and Craig both describe themselves as shy and reserved – something that’s impossible to spot in their videos.

“My Dad and I are big believers in bettering ourselves, so I decided to start streaming live videos on Twitch to help myself become more confident,” says Mikkayla.

“YouTube has become such a big part of our culture, so it seemed like a natural next step. I wanted to create content with someone reliable who never fails to make me laugh – and that’s my Dad.” Craig says being in front of the camera continues to get easier, even if he still struggles to watch a few of the videos back.

“Mikkayla convinced me to get involved by saying ‘even if nothing comes from this, we’ll have a great time together’.

Amongst the more light-hearted videos are selfdefence demonstrations for women.

Craig has trained in several different martial arts, including his favourite, Ninjutsu, for 30 years.

“I’m a bit of a weekend warrior, but it’s been good to use the skills for something practical that will help others.”

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17 21 July, 2020 2015 August,

life+style The Weekend Sun 7 Craig and Mikkayla Leckie

“I wanted to create content with someone reliable who never fails to make me laugh – and that’s my Dad”

Mikkayla says self-defence demos are amongst the channel’s most popular videos.

“Self-defence unfortunately remains necessary for women. I think that’s why those videos get good views.”

Two ‘Patience Test’ videos, where Mikkayla sees how long she can withstand having food including vinegar, fizzy drink and noodles thrown at her

by Craig, win the popularity contest. They have around 10,000 views each.

Mikkayla and Craig’s favourite? The one where they try to prank mum, Sharon.

Spoiler alert: Mum wins, and the bad guys end up trapped in a tree.

“My wife says she’s a YouTube Widow,” Craig laughs.

“But she’s always willing to be our third pair of hands.”

Mikkayla’s older sister, Sarena, always features in videos when visiting from Australia.

“Having the family together is the best. I’m very proud of the fact that we can work together and get on so well.” says Craig.

“Sharon and I worked hard to make sure the girls were sisters in every sense of the word. It paid off, they’re still really close.

“They are happy, questioning and confident girls, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

The family show their unity in ink: they have

matching batman tattoos.

“That includes Mum, it was her first tattoo,” says Mikkayla.

“Sarena and I also have each other’s names on our wrists.”

As well as Batman, the Leckie’s share a love for cartoon Adventure Time.

“It’s where we got the name for our channel – ‘my hat is awesome’ is a line from the pilot episode.”

One family member yet to make his My Hat is Awesome debut is Mikkayla’s partner of 10 years, Corey Sandbakken.

“Dad has been teaching Corey Ninjutsu since we’ve been together. I thought it would make a great video seeing if I could take him down, but it’s so not his thing!

“He may not want to be on camera, but he’s our biggest fan.”

Craig and Mikkayla’s relationship strikes a chord with viewers.

“There have been some sad comments saying ‘I wish my Dad and I did that’, or ‘I don’t have a Dad’,” says Craig.

“It’s interesting that the videos connected to people in that way, when we’re just having fun and being idiots.

“I think that’s what Mikk wanted to show everyone: you’re never too old to hang out with Dad.” MacKenzie Dyer

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life+style The Weekend Sun 21 August, 2015

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