Posted by Audrey Lee on August 24, 2010
Teenagersintokyo are no strangers to us. From their humble beginnings as a little-known band to the acclaimed success they are today, the Sydney quintet is proving to be an everlasting dark-pop stronghold. Following the celebrated-release of their eponymous EP in 2008, the band continues to steal hearts all across the UK and is now fast-becoming a firm favourite in the indie scene of both sides of the world. And they’ve done pretty well for themselves, with their debut album, Sacrifice (which dropped their single ‘New Day’), landing the number one spot on the Independent Record Store charts. Earlier this month, we hit up front-woman Samantha Lim for the lowdown on what’s been happening in their world.
Covered: Not aiming for hype, open air festival in Basel, Switzerland, eclectic tastes, touring in Australia and a weird tax scheme in London.
Audrey Lee: You guys have been pretty busy making waves around London and the rest of Europe of late. For the sake of our readers who weren’t privy to the history of the Sydney-gigging band that existed prior to the move overseas, fill us in: what’s the story behind Teenagersintokyo?
Samantha Lim: We're a five piece originally from Sydney, playing together for a number of years now. We released our EP in 2007, toured a bit and then decided to move over to the UK in 2009 after a mini-tour here gave us a taste for broader pastures. So now here we are a year later and we've finished our debut album with David Kosten. It's out in the UK and Europe, so now we're excited to release it back home where it all started.More...
teenagersintokyo, sacrifice, new day
Posted by Audrey Lee on August 16, 2010
Lako Bukia may be one of few words, but her arresting taste in style speaks volumes. Collections that are striking, deep and unique seem to come effortlessly to the 23-year-old Georgia-born designer. With a BA degree in Fashion Design and Textiles from A. Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts under her arm and a positive attitude to match, Lako has already made her way across international borders and now there’s no stopping her.
Describing her personal style as “feminine, stylish and classical”, Lako takes her bold signature look to shape-shifting new heights for her latest collection, Cubart. Fusing geometric shapes and linear lines into one tasty black-and-white blend, it was inspired by artworks of the cubism period, including those of Pablo Picasso.
Currently studying at the London College of Fashion for her second BA degree in Fashion Design and Technology Womenswear, the young designer also busies herself styling projects with fellow fashion designer, Katie Burnett. When asked of the reasons behind her success, Lako says it was through hard work, passion and her education in different universities that cemented her footing as a fashion designer.
“Being in the fashion industry is already very hard. Every step is getting harder and harder. Fashion is already a big challenge. [But] if you love your work and believe in yourself, you will definitely succeed.”
The runway at the Vauxhall Fashion Scout during the London Fashion Week, she says, is next on her list. With her constant drive and artistic talent, we know it’s only a matter of time before she gets there. Go Lako!
lako bukia, a. kutateladze tbilisi state academy of art, pablo picasso, kate burnett, vauxhall fashion scout, london fashion week
Posted by KB on July 28, 2010
Here at Kluster, we love young talent. Which is why when we saw the work of New Caledonian-born, Sydney-based artist William-Guillaume Saussay, we had to get in touch and pick his brains. We spoke to Will ahead of his upcoming show, A Ciel Ouvert, at Woolloomooloo’s Monstrosity Gallery.
Covered: psychological travels, Jean-Michel Basquiat, breaking boundaries and the definition of an artist.
KB: With your paintings, you’ve invited viewers “to plots their own path across the canvas”. Can you tell us a little bit about the path you’ve chosen to get to where you are today?
William-Guillaume Saussay: I've always been trying to explore the paths on which my mind can take me. Psychological travels are the best to have - by this I mean that from an early age my parents let me explore what I could do with my hands and mind. The key is to not feel limited by our own physical and mental capabilities. Art is like gravity, all it needs is a little push. I have also been studying subjects such as, visual arts, design, fine arts, photography and going towards arts education. More...
william-guillaume saussay, jean-michel basquiat, monstrosity, painting
Posted by Audrey Lee on July 28, 2010
While most girls are still trying to find themselves at age 18, Jacqui Alexander had already made her mark in the world of fashion, becoming the youngest ever designer for Harvey Nichols. In the years since, this fashionista has never wavered far from the spotlight. Invigorated by Buenos Aires' street vibe, Jacqui Alexander birthed Skinny Nelson - her second label - at 21. Lucky for us, we managed to score a couple of minutes with Australia's fashion sweetheart to fill us in with more.
Covered: personal style, starting young, offbeat aesthetics and chicas in Palermo.
Audrey Lee: What first inspired you to pursue fashion design?
Jacqui Alexander: I grew up in a very creative household with an artist mother and a father in fashion. I think I decided when I was about seven (playing dress ups in my dad’s studio) that fashion was for me.
AL: You got your foot into the fashion industry at such a young age. What do you think are the reasons behind your success?
JA: Starting young and being afforded the opportunity to watch and learn how the industry operates helped me create a solid brand and fashion business behind each collection. I think it’s that underlying understanding and stability that brought early success to the brand. More...
jacqui alexander, skinny nelson, buenos aires, fashion designer, palermo
Posted by Penny Cropper on July 21, 2010
A celebration of the sung and unsung heroes we adore the guts out of. Gary Bigeni, as recommended by favourite folk #1 Tanya Stevanovic.
Dubbed “the one to watch” going into his debut at Fashion Week 2010, Gary Bigeni is turning heads in the Australian fashion world. Having previously designed for Josh Goot and already stocked at iconic Sydney boutique The Corner Shop – owned by his mentor, Belinda Seper – Bigeni is no stranger to success. But at just 29, he is eccentric, adorable and, in fact, only just getting started.
A Sydney native and graduate of East Sydney TAFE, Bigeni says designing is in his genes, and he has been doing what comes naturally for as long as he can remember.
“I was always creating things as a kid; I went from high school to design school then straight into starting my own label. I used to have a collection of Barbies that I used to design and make hand-sewn garments for – all day, every day. I was never happy with the options Barbie had. It has always been in my blood to create pieces for people to wear.”
Of his designs, Gary says his secret is in the detail.
“I design art forms that have their own clever structural secrets: soft but tricky hems, interesting panelling and intricate design techniques are present in every element of my collections. My vision is to create new shapes and interesting silhouettes. I draw a lot of inspiration from everyday life.”
Although the trademark Bigeni craftsmanship is present, as ever, in his SS-10 collection, Gary says the range is very different to previous years.
“I only wanted to offer colours in the collection and take out black to give it a fresh approach. I also introduce more woven and tailored elements to offer different textures and fabrication. The shapes are more to the body.”
gary bigeni, fashion week 2010, SS-10, design, fashion
Posted by Penny Cropper on July 19, 2010
This month sees the launch of Winterland, the brand new winter festival currently on location at Carriageworks. Ice skating, mulled wine and market stalls are all on offer, but the free music nights are the real pick of the bunch. Here we speak to the man behind the music, Carriagworks Executive Producer Jamie Dawson about how it's all going.
Covered: Sydney's newest live music venue, taking risks with live music, The Stiff Gins.
Penny Cropper: What was the idea behind the music program for Winterland? What did you want to achieve?
Jamie Dawson: We wanted to launch a program that showcased some of Sydney’s best emerging musicians and sparked the idea of CarriageWorks as a live music venue. In its first few years of programming I felt CarriageWorks has been under represented in its presentation of live local music. This festival is to help balance that programming and establish a model for regular gigs in the future.
PC: How are the live music nights going so far? Have you had much feedback yet and are you happy with the response so far?
JD:We are quite early in the program, but so far things have been fantastic. It has been a great response in terms of the music. I think people are most appreciative of having the chance to come and see free great live music in a fun and cheeky atmosphere.
PC: What are the best things about the live music nights? Why should people come for a look?
JD: In the space of a month you’ll see everything from Alt Country to Jazz, Disco to eccentric Gypsy and at each and every stage it’s a classy line up. All gigs are free so you can take a risk on a new band and try something you’ve never done before.More...
carriageworks, winterland, the stiff gins
Posted by kluster on July 13, 2010
Ernest Ellis first grabbed our attention with the single ‘Bad Blood’ which projected him into the touring circuit with the likes of Evan Dando and The Paper Scissors. Recently, he’s been hiding out in the wilds, recording his debut album, Hunting. We caught up with Roland Ellis, the front man of the solo-project-with-band that is Ernest Ellis.
Covered: singing in the bath, turning 25, musical bones and supporting Florence.
Kat Hartmann: So, how’s everything on the back of last week’s album release? Is it nice to finally have it out there?
Roland Ellis: It is, yes. It’s my first album and it’s exciting that it’s finally out. It was quite a long process to record it and I’m pretty proud of it.
KH: Fabulous. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding you and your band at the moment. What does it feel like sitting where you are, in the middle of it all?
RE: I don’t really feel any of it. It’s weird because I’ve been writing songs for a fair while. I turn 25 on Monday and it’s taking me a while to put something out. It’s nice to have people interested in what you’re doing and that can’t be a bad thing right?More...
ernest ellis, roland ellis, interviews, bad blood, tim carr, mat gardner, ben morgan
Posted by kluster on June 30, 2010
What can we say, any designer who first found inspiration in the moves and grooves of Deee-Lite is all right by us. Not to mention one whose shoes have been featured as larger than life props in a Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Canadian designer Jerome C Rousseau creates the kind of shoes we anticipate and salivate over, season in, season out. Last week we seized the opportunity to pick his brain about his upcoming AW collection. We’ve even been able to smuggle back a few sneak peeks of his as of yet unreleased collection for your eager eyes. No sweat, you can thanks us later.
Kat Hartmann: What inspired you to first begin designing shoes?
Jerome C Rousseau: As a young teenager in Quebec, I came across a band called Deee-Lite. They were wearing wild footwear and I started drawing these shoes in art classes. Drawing shoes became something I wanted to do all the time, and after researching the history of shoes it evolved into a strong passion. I ended up moving to London to study at Cordwainers College, which turned out to be the start of a brilliant journey for me.
KH: Can you tell us a little about some of the inspirations and motivation for the AW collection?More...
jerome c rousseau, fashion, shoes, deee-lite, terry gilliam
Posted by KB on June 29, 2010
Joel Edgerton hardly needs an introduction. As a star of film, TV and theatre and one of Sydney’s best-loved exports, he has appeared in episodes 2 and 3 of the Star Wars trilogy, alongside Cate Blanchett on stage in A Streetcar Named Desire, in his AFI Award-nominated role in TV’s The Secret Life of Us, and recently, in the acclaimed Animal Kingdom, among other things. Here he talks to The Waiting City director Claire McCarthy about his latest film and what it was like shooting in India.
Covered: The beauty of India, drawing crowds of adoring fans, filming for 18 hours on a train, doing another prequel.
Claire McCarthy: What attracted you to being involved with The Waiting City?
Joel Edgerton: It’s always a script that attracts me to a project first. I loved your script and the story itself drew me right in. The icing on the cake was that the film was set and to be shot in India.
CM: Can you describe the character you played in the film and what it was like playing this role?
JE: Ben, the character I play is a husband and he is about to become a father. In his career he is someone who feels he has somewhat failed. Once upon a time he was in a band that did well and may have had massive success but he fell down the excess path with drugs, and blew his chances. More...
joel edgerton, claire mccarthy, the waiting city, kolkata, john carpenter, interviews, cate blanchett
Posted by Sam Hartmann on June 22, 2010
Vernon Treweeke’s personal and professional history - from his involvment in the art scene in London, the US and pioneering techniques in Australia in the 1960s, to working as a railway worker – has us captivated. Treweeke decision to distance himself from the art world in the 1970s, after making a name for himself internationally as something of a pioneer, shocked many. His artistic career could have taken a very different path, a path similar to that of his school friend and contemporary Brett Whiteley, but the products of his career are of his own selection and making and, by his own account, he does not regret a thing. These days the now-heralded ‘father of psychodelic art’ lives a rather reclusive life in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. He's just recently decided to venture into the world of exhibiting once again. A retrospective collection of Treweeke's work, 1966 - today is currently on display at CarriageWorks, Sydney.
Covered: creating 3D art in 1966, using weed to get out of work, deciding not to become a millionaire, exhibition again after all these years and taking his retrospective cross country.
You have a varied history genre wise, you seem to have tried many forms of painting and in the late 60’s you led the way in Australia for many contemporary artists in “new” genres. How would you classify yourself now?
Post modernists. I worked my way through from modernist to post modernist.
I would like to read you a quote “In the '60s, Vernon Treweeke was a radical psychedelic artist whose work was bought by the National Gallery of Australia, but a decade later, this emerging artist vanished overnight to become a recluse.” Tell me a bit more about this time.
I became disillusioned with the art scene. At the time legislation was passed that allowed art to become tax deductible. Wealthy people began to buy art to avoid paying tax. It didn’t sit well with me. I felt it was corrupt and didn’t want to be part of that so I decided to sell only to friends and people I knew who were not buying art for this reason. More...
vernon treweeke, carriage works, 3D art, psychodelic art
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on June 2, 2010
Los Angeles curated bookstore, Family is a place where records lay beside art books and magazines. Roll over in the bed and you will find that DVDs, clothing and posters have also taken up residence. Joining forces with Absolut Vodka and Spike Jones, Family recently ran Thirty Days NY.
We chatted with David about his opinion of transgressive sex books, Shana Moulton's performance piece and Albert Maysles on-stage presence.
Danni Le Toullec: How did the idea for Thirty Days NY come about?
David Jacob Kramer: Absolut Vodka worked with Spike Jonze on a short film called I'm Here. They wanted to follow that up with a temporary creative space in New York, so Spike set up a meeting and we all got along. We worked with some of the artists involved with that film like Aska Matsumiya who composed the soundtrack, and Meryl Smith whose sculptures were featured in the film.
We've wanted Family to do something in NY for a while and this thing was really satisfying because we had the resources to do it on a much grander scale than our spot in LA. Family LA is about the size of a bus, with limited budget and the NY spot was 4200 sq feet and we were able to construct stuff like a psychedelic light theatre with Joshua White (who basically invented the psychedelic light show in the 60s for people like Hendrix and the Grateful Dead). Ben Jones of Paper Rad built these amazing bookshelves too. And there was a whole team helping construct them. We weren't used to an idea being manifested so quickly and easily and so well. More...
david kramer, thirtydaysny, family, family bookstore
Posted by Danni Le Toullec on May 25, 2010
After taking a giant leap of faith and leaving jobs at MTV that they both loved, Matt Fayle and Pip Jamieson have successfully launched The Loop.
Helping to connect creatives and extend the benefits of word-of-mouth that the industry relies on, The Loop is opening the pages of notebooks, the doors of studios and darkrooms and providing a stage for individuals to showcase their talents.
We sat down with Pip to discuss the journey of The Loop, how to get a foot in the door of a tough industry and the benefits of taking a risk.
Danni Le Toullec: What motivated the creation of The Loop?
Pip Jamieson: Both me and my partner in crime, Matt, used to work at MTV; Matt in Digital and me in marketing. The idea for The Loop was born out of my frustration in finding fresh creative talent - we were overly dependent on word of mouth, and incredible people were slipping through the net. On the flip side Matt, being the "digital guy", was constantly being asked by creative friends & colleagues for advice on the best way to build their own websites to showcase their work online and promote themselves to potential employers and clients.
We brought these two frustrations together and The Loop was born.
DL: Can you explain The Loop to our readers who have not had the opportunity to visit the site yet?
PJ: THE LOOP is an Australian-based folio-building & networking site for creative professionals. Creatives can promote themselves online by creating a FREE online profile; including portfolio, showreel and resume and gain access to tons of industry jobs. One way to think of it is as Seek, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube all in one place. More...
mtv, pip jamieson, matt fayle, the loop