I’ve noticed there’s been a lot more activity around here with lots of new people checking out ConversationsWithBianca.com thanks for finding me & welcome! If you’re not sure where to start maybe the below may be able to give you a little direction.
From Problogger (via: themerchgirl), my attempt at the following 7 links:
• Your most helpful post: I have a back log of questions I’ve received in email messages that I’ve started answering—I get asked a lot for interviewing tips and how to make a zine. New section coming soon: Miss B Q&A, so if you have any thing I might be able to help with write me. At the moment you could check out: Salin’ On and 30-Days To A Radder You
• A post with a title that you are proud of: Love. Love. Love. (is there really anything better?)
• A post that you wish more people had read: Camp Fail
I enjoy art. I enjoy creating. I enjoy creating art to give to my friends. The pieces above reside in the studio of my best friend Ant Aggs (Afro Dizzi Act/Resin Dogs/Gonzalez 3). I made the pieces when we lived together with Grover & Lua at the Teague Street Club House. I used to stay up at night writing and would listen to Ant’s beat making drift through the walls. The two pieces reflect our mutual love of music and creation–of building something.
They’re falling apart now… they’ve been well loved. Time to make something new methinks.
This track is called Fly Away. Ant made the beat, I wrote the words/melody. We both sing. We have an albums worth of ambient electronica… hopefully one day we’ll get to share it.
A few years back I worked on a musical project with pal Reichelt. It started simply, he and I in a studio bouncing ideas back and forth on acoustic guitars, clear bodied electrics and acapella vocal melodies; a bunch of ideas scrawled in my notebook, too many coffees and snacks from the candy machine. We rehearsed sporadically and recorded a bunch–with the addition of Jeff Paton, drums-Scott Reid, guitars-Ant Aggs, keys–we ended up with an EPs worth of stuff, plus demos for an album. The above song is called ‘To Be Or Not To Be’. I dearly hope one day we’ll finish the album… the project/band is called Los Angels.
Since childhood I have been obsessed with magazines. I enjoy the content, look, feel, and smell of the paper—I care about gsm & typography! (lol) I justify a $20+ magazine purchase as ‘research’ and I make special trips into the city just to browse Borders’ international magazine imports and day dream of having subscriptions to all my favourites: Vogue, Juxtapoz, Dazed & Confused, Marie Clare, Tattoo Life, Self, Monster Children + more. Notice there’s no music magazines on the list? The reason: honestly, I dislike most music journalism (more on that in coming posts).
For my own music writing work I prefer to draw inspiration from somewhere like Vogue than Rolling Stone, NME and the like. The way a writer from Vogue describes a couture garment is much more honest, interesting and informative than most reviews and features I read in music mags. I feel that I am getting a truer representation of what it is beyond somebody’s personal opinion—apart from a select few whose opinions I have come to value and trust (over years of following their extensive and informed body of work). To me, most music writing (that I’ve found) has no depth or soul.
Now, the one thing I love more than flipping through a publication is cutting it to pieces to make something else—hence my love of cut n paste zines perhaps! I especially enjoy taking things out of context and giving them a new significance (I’m a big fan of Exene from X’s collage art and Jhonny Hobo’s photomontages). I’ve been working on a couple of pieces I will post once finished.
For the past few months I have started to keep an Inspiration Notebook where I make collages in a sketchbook of things that I find inspiring. I’m a huge fan of Nubby Twiglet’s Fashion Notebook (so far spanning 10 years) and Decor Notebook collection. Besides the biggest reason—it’s fun and makes me feel incredibly joyful all that cutting, pasting, organsing and dreaming—it also comes in handy when I’m needing inspiration for photo shoots, planning my wardrobe, art works or my work in general. It saves a lot of time and effort having material that I adore to readily reference. It also functions as somewhat of a mood board.
I’ve also found it interesting to see what kinds of images/objects I am drawn to, there’s definitely reoccurring themes. I adore the exotic, the decadent, the simple, the ancient, the futuristic, the astral, the cute, the embellished, the nerdy, celebrating and embracing ethnicity, bright colours, retro paintings, things that sparkle, pop art…. and pugs! Here’s a little sample of what’s been moving me of late.
It’s been a little quiter around here than I had planned. Sorry guys! My project Conversations With Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue has a home of it’s own now: http://conversationswithpunx.tumblr.com/ Please bookmark & share it. A date has also been set for the projects release, finally!
Over at http://conversationswithpunx.tumblr.com/ I have started a 60-day punk rock countdown ‘til the release/launch of the project in zine form (a limited edition 12 issue zine series) on September 2 at Bleeding Heart Gallery—Brisbane, Australia. Each day it’s updated with details of one of the conversations.
So far, find insight into conversations with Don Letts, Greg Graffin, Ben Weasel, Ray Cappo, Matt Caughthran and Lou Koller. As the countdown unfolds you’ll get a bigger picture of what this project is all about. The first zine of twelve in the series will have a hand-screenprinted cover and be hand-bound. You will be able to pre-order it shortly.
You will also find a Punk Rock Motivatonal Song post at the blog. The playlist for P.M.A. so far = Circle Jerks – Wonderful (live 1985), Suicidal Tendencies – I Want More (live Amsterdam 2009), the Bouncing Souls – Sing Along Forever, 7 Seconds – Kids Are United / Walk Together, Rock Together / 99 Red Balloons (5/09/10 Las Vegas) and more…
There’s also quotes posted on ‘spirituality’ collected from my 15-year writing career—Glenn Danzig, Marky Ramone, Jesse Michaels, John Joseph… etc
The September 2 launch is part of a triple zine launch and 3-day exhibition—September 1, 2 & 3. It is presented by the Paper Cuts Collective (a zine collective) that I introduced a couple of posts back.
Please bookmark us and join our Facebook group to get all the latest news/updates regarding the launch and other upcoming collaborative initiatives.
I feel so much better now that Conversations With Punx has a home of its own. I will be able to give ConversationsWithBianca.com more focus. I do so many things that it all gets blurred sometimes—hopefully things will become a little clearer around here over the coming weeks as to where this is headed. Thanks for bearing with me through the growth and staying interested. There’s lots of exciting things in the works.
I’ve found myself in possession of the following info and found it too exciting not to share, details for a in production documentary on rock journalism which is slated for release 2011:
“Not Fade Away” is a verite documentary following veteran music writer Marc Spitz
as he interviews some of the most celebrated and infamous figures in the history of rock, gathering source-material for his book “I’m a Rock Person” about the rise and fall of music journalism over the past half-century.
The Overview:
Who are as fully immersed in music and committed to rock culture as the performers are. Only the journalist is doomed to a rock & roll lifestyle and can articulate the complexity and intensity of it all. Being obsessed with rock & roll is lonely. And no amount of sex, drugs, cars, toys and more drugs can fill a void for the musician quite like an exchange with their fellow traveler — the rock journalist.
While the rock writer’s love for music is pure, they’re not immune to being star-struck, seduced, bribed, manhandled, slipped-mickeys and swindled. And yet a good rock critic will keep a musician on top of his or her game and prevent the yes men and spin doctors from wielding too much power.
The film will also pose the question: What does rock music journalism mean today? In an age where magazine editors don’t even try to sync up issues to major music releases anymore, is rock music journalism dead? Any takers on that one? ha ha ;)
It features:
Cameron Crowe • Don Henley • Henry Rollins • Jello Biafra • John Doe • Johnny Rotten • Mark Mothersbaugh • Ray Manzarek • Robert Hilburn • Morrissey • Courtney Love • Bob Geldof • Charles Shaar Murray • Chrissie Hinde • Maureen Cleave • Nick Kent • Ray Davies • the Pet Shop Boys • Jon Savage • Neil Tennant • Nick Logan • Everett True • Bob Gruen • Danny Fields • Jann Wenner • Joan Didion • John Mendelsohn • Keith Richards • Lou Reed • Mick Jagger • Patti Smith • Paul McCartney • Pete Townshend • R. Crumb • Ringo Starr • Rogert Christgau • Iggy Pop • Bob Guccione Jr • Jon Leland • Michael Azzerad • Michael Stipe • Scott Stereogum • Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon • Russell Simmons • David LaChapelle • Stephen Malkmus • Billie Joe Armstrong • Bruce Pavitt of Sub Pop • Fats Domino • Little Richard • Anton Corbijn • Bono • Brooklyn Vegan • Chuck D • Glen Cosloy • Jack White • Kurt Loder • Nick Cave • Bob Mould • Paul Morely • Shane McGowan • The Beastie Boys
I love zines. I love the connections and bonds created with people all over the world that can eventuate through creating and sharing zines.
Myself, and my zine making comrades Jeremy Staples and Matthew Limmer have started a co-op—the Paper Cuts Collective. The three of us (collectively) have over twenty years of zine making trial and error experience between us.
We decided to combine our powers and work together—as we all know, working together can achieve great, great things! Resources and networks pooled and shared can generate fun times for all. We all share a passion for zines, art, good music and d.i.y.
Stay tuned for details of our joint zine launch coming up in August!
It’s been a long while between posts… my apologies! A lot has happened since I last wrote; there have been an interesting chain of events unfold in my life. I’ll give you the lowdown over a series of posts starting with this one.
CONVERSATIONS WITH BIANCA is also now a print zine! Last Thursday I decided to create a new zine. I finished the zine in 3 days. It features some of my favourite pieces from this blog, interviews with HOBO OBITUARIES, FELINEDOWN, ANT AGGS, SHMOE, OPEARATOR PLEASE, tattooist and artist MILLY LOVEKNUCKLES of ROCK OF AGES TATTOO, zine maker STAPLES and the wonderful art of JHONNY HOBO. It’s 50+ pages of cut ‘n’ paste goodness. I believe in everything and everyone in the zine times a million and one percent! Their awesomeness actually inspired me to make the print zine… when someone goes to the trouble of making a print zine they obviously feel very passionate about what they’re sharing so it could be definitely worthwhile.
The zine also comes with a sampler CD featuring some of my favourite music: Hobo Obituaries, Ant Aggs, Los Angels (a musical project of mine), Jhonny Hobo, the Death Set, Ultra Egos, the Mad Occupants, Smitten Kitten, Shmoe vs. Hobos & more. Plus it features the audio trailer for my book Conversations With Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue.
The zine plus sampler is FREE—if I’m mailing it to you postage would be super appreciated and a big help to me though :) I’ll be doing the first mail out at the beginning of next week.
If you would like one leave a comment or get in touch with you details.
In my line of work I meet a lot of creative, crazy-talented individuals on a daily basis. Once in a while someone comes along that really inspires me and whose work consistently blows me away. I often find that its the people closest to me that inspire me most. I decided that I wanted to pay tribute to these wonderful individuals with a series of posts titled ‘Mi Inspiration’… to kick things off I give you one of my all-time favourite artists, Jhonny Hobo…
What is art to you? How do you or don’t you define it personally for yourself?
I think art is a hard term to put into words, but basically most things that involve creating and expressing are art to me. I sort of think its best not to analyse these things too much. You start to think about it too much and it starts to mess with your creativity.
Is art cathartic for you?
No. I don’t really feel like I get any kind of release of pent-up emotions or anything from making art. Though I can see how creating things could be helpful in letting go or addressing issues bothering you. It’s more about just creating something that didn’t exist before rather than releasing emotions for me. I don’t really take much seriously.
What’s the feeling you get from drawing or making music?
To be honest, I don’t get any “feeling” from it myself. I mean, I really enjoy it, but I see it more as I try and think as little as possible about it, and just make what’s in my head in a sort of almost meditative state. I think it’s up to someone else viewing it to be thinking about the feeling they get from it.
How would you describe your art?
It’s always hard to describe for many reasons. For one, I do a lot of different things that come into that category. Painting, illustration, producing and performing music, sculpture, designing, photomontage. So, I’m not really sure I could describe my art. As Frank Zappa once said, “Talking about music is like dancing about architecture.” I think he’s pretty right. I don’t necessarily think art should be described or critiqued.
Is there a particular movement, period in art or artist that has greatly inspired or influenced your work?
I think Marcel Duchamp and a lot of ideas of the Dada artists really kicked me in the head and taught me alot. The rejection of any rules. Not doing what’s expected. As well as the satiric side of making fun of ‘serious’ art.
What were you like growing up?
I was a little skinny nerd. Nothing’s changed. I was totally obsessed with music and art.
Your brother is also an artist and you both have a band together, tell me about your relationship with him. What’s something important you’ve learnt from him?
Andy and I grew up discovering music and art together so obviously i can relate better to him than anyone, so he’s the perfect person for me to collaborate with. When I try to think of something I’ve learnt from him, there’s one moment in my life where one sentence changed my outlook forever.
I remember being about 8 years old and making something to eat, and turned to Andy and said “Do you think it’d be ok if I put this kind of sauce with this?” or something like that. He just smiled and said, “Dude, as long as YOU think it tastes ok, there’s no rules, do whatever you want.” Now, it probably sounds silly, but as a little kid, that blew me away. I applied that to a lot of things in my life, especially my art and music. Fuck music theory, just as long as you think it tastes ok.
Has art always been a really big part of your life?
Yes. I know alot of people are like, “Music is my life” and all that bullshit, but I really haven’t thought about much else since I was 7 or 8. Even when there’s no music playing, I find myself processing the noises from traffic, wind and birds and things as if it’s music. It’s hard to explain. But, yeah, it’s constantly on my mind.
What contemporary artists have inspired you lately? What is it about their work that you enjoy?
I find that the amazing quantity of really horrible stuff that gets made in the mainstream inspires me to do things almost more than things I like.
What’s your preferred medium of choice and why?
I don’t think I have a preferred medium. I would get really bored if I only did one all the time. But I’m most comfortable with just a lead pencil.
What are you working on right now?
I’ve been working on photomontage a lot. Two of the biggest artistic influences on my life are John Heartfield (german dada artist), and Winston Smith (who worked with Jello Biafra a lot). They were both photomontage artists. And I became obsessed recently with finding old 60′s and 70′s reference books, so I’ve been at ‘em with the exacto-knife. As well as combining them with spray paint and mixing it up.
I recently finished my 2nd solo CD and a new Hobo Obituaries EP, so have been having a break from music production. But will be back at it real soon to complete the 2nd part to the Future Champions EPs as well as a fairly orchestral-style instrumental solo disc and a collaborative EP between Californian musician Shmoe and Hobo Obituaries.
What have you found to be your greatest challenge as an artist?
Getting any kind of support is by far the hardest thing. I mean, you don’t ‘need’ it and that’s not what it’s about, but at the same time, when you get no support it’s very discouraging. Even if you aren’t out to impress people, you get the feeling of “why do I bother?” a lot…
What do you do to keep things fresh and interesting for you?
I rotate what I’m working on from drawing, to making music, to carving, to whatever, and back again. So if I get bored with one, I’ll do another for a while, and wait to be inspired to want to go back.
Who or what compels you to keep drawing?
I’m not sure. It’s always a struggle to stay inspired but I couldn’t imagine what I’d do otherwise. So I guess boredom is what compels me.
How, if at all, does living on the Gold Coast, Australia influence your work?
I really hate to say it, but if I was being honest I would have to say really negatively. There is absolutely no creative avenues here, and very little support for anyone doing anything interesting.
You’re also a musician. What is one of your first musical memories?
As a child the first two cassettes I got of my own choosing were a Paul McCartney double Greatest Hits and Big Audio Dynamite II’s The Globe cassingle. Both huge influences. I heard The Globe come on the TV just the other day and stopped to think about it, and it really has so many elements that make it the right starting point for what I do. It was mixing a traditional rock/pop band with sampling, electronics and some hip hop / techno sensibilities. Definitely an area I have dedicated myself to since.
What are your top 5 albums and why?
‘Faith No More – Angel Dust’
My forrae into alternative music was ‘the Real Thing’ LP but I remember anticipating this release and not being disappointed at all.
‘Ramones – Rocket To Russia’
The band that taught all of us “un-co losers” to play guitar.
‘Solex – Low Kick and Hard Bop’
I really appreciate DIY. And for that matter, one person who does it all is even better. Like Solex. The one woman sampling machine.
‘Ween – Pure Guava’
I could write an extremely long essay on why Ween are the best. Not the kind of band you can paraphrase here.
‘KRS One – a retrospective’
I remember taking a tab each and then everyone left to go paint trains.. I stayed behind and tripped balls on this disc alone in the dark.
The majority of your friends are artists and musicians, is there any people from that network that has really inspired you? How so?
The people who inspire me the most are the ones who do it themselves. And there’s a big difference between what I mean by doing it yourself and doing what most people do. I think too many local peeps concentrate on being “picked up” by a label or something, and what they do is to impress these people, rather than just doing it yourself, and that’s it. It’s like the “doing it yourself” part of it is a step to making it. Where I consider doing it yourself and making your own disc or whatever, you HAVE made it. You’re not making this to submit to labels and things, you’re making it and giving it to people to listen to. And that’s it.
Have you ever had a really life changing moment?
Ever since I could remember all I wanted to do was be a children’s book illustrator. But that all changed in a creepy instant. I was about 12 or 13 and on a school trip to Sydney. We were in the middle of the city and stopped for lunch. Me and 4 or so other kids broke from the group and went and got some burgers and fries. We were from a small town and were really sheltered little kids, so we had never really been exposed to homelessness before and there was a lot of people there who were in that situation. We ended up sitting down to eat and made friends with one of the hobos, Maurice. We gave him one of those old Maccas calendars with all the vouchers. He was super stoked on it. My friend Mitchell tried to give him a bunch of money but he refused, so we hid some at the bottom of the chips we gave him. We were talking to him for a while and he was a really nice, smart dude. Then he started asking us all what we wanted to be when we grew up. We went round the group and all my friends were saying they wanted to be a doctor or lawyer and fancy things, and he was encouraging them and telling them “that’s great!” and to work hard. When it got to my turn, I told him I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator and he totally lost it. It seemed to really anger him, it was bizarre. He told me to give up and that it was a bad idea in a very serious tone. His demeanour totally changed and he wasn’t kidding. It freaked the hell out of me. I still feel really weird about it. So basically I gave up on that idea. I still secretly wish I could, but don’t tell Maurice.
“To me, making a tape is like writing a letter — there’s a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again. A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do.” ~High Fidelity.
As a teen I’d sit in my bedroom at night and listen to the radio. I’d sit beside my mum and dad’s cassette player, fingers on the play and record buttons, ready to capture a song I like the sound of. I’d then take them (along with my meagre CD collection) and compile them into mixtapes for myself. On the weekends you could often find me holed up in my bedroom making them. I’d make a mixtape for ANY occasion! I was (and still am) the biggest music dork. I liked to make themed mixes or mixes that were perfect for different emotions. I even made cover art for them.
Once I started going to all ages shows I made friends that shared my enthusiasm and love for the art. When I started making zines and corresponding (by post—this was way before internet became a household thing) with other zine makers we used to send each other mixes of our favourite tunes—still to this day one of my favourite mixtapes was sent to me by Cade who did a hardcore punk zine from Australia called Circle One. The man has great taste!
I have always enjoyed receiving mixtapes from others. It’s one of the best ways to discover awesome new (to you) music. More often than not if someone has gone to the trouble to make you a mix they’ve put a lot of time and effort into it, they’ve taken care to choose some of the best material from artists they love (you’re getting a personal introduction to the act). It’s always been refreshing to be exposed to music I wouldn’t necessarily seek out myself.
Mixtapes have been made and celebrated in both the punk rock and hip hop communities for years. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc were all mix tape creators ‘back in the day’. DJ Roofeeo the drummer for one of my favourite bands the MFDS has recently made a rockin’ mixtape for download here. Another of my favourites Kanye West made the Can’t Tell Me Nothing.
For more info on mixtapes click out the Wikipedia entry.
Now without further ado, I give you the very first (there will be many, many more! I’m going to make it a regular thing!) ConversationsWithBianca.com Mixtape with beautiful art by my partner in crime Jhonny Hobo (among many things Jhonny is one half of Hobo DJs you can peep a sample of their work here)…
MISS BIANCA’S DIGITAL MIXTAPE 1
Messer Chups – Flash Of The Night
Hobo Obituaries – Sad Trumpet
The Bronx – False Alarm
The Death Set – Around The World
Operation Ivy – Sound System
Uffie – Pop The Glock
The Roots – Don’t Feel Right
Moby featuring Gwen Stefani
Santigold – Creator
Deltron 3030 – Positive Contact
Gogol Bordello – Start Wearing Purple
Shmoe – Knees Up
Rancid – Red Hot Moon
M.I.A – Jimmy
Death On Wednesday – Stranded
Felinedown – Devil’s Playground
The Bouncing Souls – Anchors Away
N*E*R*D – Wonderful Place
You’ve heard them now learn more about them (click on the link)…
What are you guys listening to? Send me mixtapes & new music! Hope you’ve found something new (to you) in my mix. Please support the artists do see them live, buy some merch and music… as I’ve said many times before “we have too much to lose as a society, economy & culture if we do not ensure Creators’ efforts are rewarded” your mission if you choose to accept: really & truly support the music you ♥ & artists that create it!
