• Legendary Roots Crew drummer Ahmir Thompson has an in-depth chat about 15 years in the business. A super interesting read!
• Some of the best Mexican wares & Dia de los Muertos goodies to be found in Australia can be picked up at the offbeat Holy Kitsch.
• I haven’t stopped listening to this all week! A free download of Akoko’s debut EP.
• Also, some more of my favourite hip hop of late can be found for free (donations welcomed but not necessary) from my friends at Guerrilla Republik. I have an in-depth feature to be published shortly that includes chats with a few artists on the roster, as well as founder Rabb Love. These guys are taking hip hop to new heights. Only the realist feel this!
• I cannot wait for Bjork’s new record it looks & sounds phenomenal! The $800 box-set is insane! Want so bad!
• Wow! I can’t believe I only just found out about Mattel making Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper & Joan Jett Barbie dolls! And, what’s even radder is the Beth Ditto doll I found! Plus there’s a guy in Beijing that makes Lady Gaga ones too!
• Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews by Art Taylor has been a great read of late. I enjoy reading great interviews even if I don’t know the interviewee or their work. You know the interview is AMAZING if it inspires you to check out their work! If you want to become really good at interviewing I suggest you read as many interviews as you can find – good and bad (the bad ones show you what you can do better). I always love to read interviews with peers – artist to artist, like the ones that Interview Magazine publishes. The questions and answers are usually more insightful than the rubbish most interviews done by “music/entertainment journalist” have to offer.
• Nubby Twiglet’s Organization Methods Tips and Tricks from a Virgo helped me get sorted this week!
• I just love, love, love record art! DIY Album Art: Paper Bags and Office Supplies celebrating handmade record packaging from the ’90s punk & hardcore scenes is an inspiring find.
• I’m also loving CSS’ homemade lino print tour posters!!!

CSS MAKING POSTERS! from csstv on Vimeo.

• Valentino Vamp never ceases to amaze me with the loveliest vintage & retro lady art & photos.
• Wanna see something super cute? This Guerilla Knitting documentary explores the origins of Yarn Graffiti!
• If you haven’t seen the following metaphysical documentaries I highly recommend Esoteric Agenda & Kymatica. They may make you look at the world a little differently. Go on expand your consciousness! I dare you to!
• I could keep watching episodes of David Lynch’s Interview Project over and over. It reinforces the notion that everyone has a story—that’s a huge reason I love interviewing; I love to tell people’s stories (especially creative people) in the hopes others will be inspired or find a commonality and realise that they are not alone.
• Though I don’t identify myself as a Buddhist I have studied the philosophy fairly in-depth for many years now and have seen the positive difference various aspects of the philosophy and its practices has made in my life. Meditation has really helped me get through many hard times in my life. Noah Levine and his Dharma Punx movement was a great starting place for me. You can download free talks and guided meditations from the Dharma Punx site. Many of my friends who have been recovering addicts have found the Buddhism & Recovery steps helpful.
• And lastly, who can resist a pug dog that says “I love you!”

With Metta,

*Photo sourced from one of my favourite magazines Dazed & Confused (photos: Carmen Freudenthal / Elle Verhagen)

This issue is 75 pages, (currently) bound with shiny fuschia cord with a baby pink/silver star bow (this may change as I’m almost out) and has a blue cobweb paper pre-title page. It features conversations with: John Joseph from the Cro-Mags/Bloodclot; Noah Levine the author of Dharma Punx & Against the Stream; Mike Park owner of Asian Man Records; Robert Ehrenbrand from Boysetsfire (who I’m stoked are back together doing a few shows in Europe); Dr Know guitarist for Bad Brains; Louis Posen owner of Sub City/Hopeless Records; and Jonah Matranga solo artist and the man behind Onelinedrawing/Far/Gratitude/New End Original.

Here’s what it looks like:

Photography in this issue is by the following wonderful folks: Oliver Wilke (Germany) – www.oliverwilke.com; Hiro Tanaka (Japan) – www.flickr.com/photos/29615125@N03/; Kate Hiltz (US); Silvere Teutsch (France) – www.photostudio108.com; Jonah Matranga (US) – www.jonahmatranga.com

To order a copy contact me directly at: conversationswithbianca [at] gmail [dot] com. Remember they are limited edition. As of yesterday I sent out the last copies of Conversations with Punx #2/12 ‘Courage’. I only have a handful of CWP #1/12 ‘Truth’ and about 17 copies of CWP #3 ‘Love’. So make sure you get in early to avoid disappointment! :)

In other CWP news the Australian National Library (Australia’s largest reference library) recently got in contact and is purchasing the entire Conversations with Punx limited edition zine series for their collection! They ‘recognise them as an important part of contemporary culture both for their content and design’!

Also within the coming weeks copies of CWP will feature in Dharma Punx author, Noah Levine’s Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society lending library located on Melrose in Los Angeles! After working in libraries for so many years it’s such an honour that my work, along with the thoughts, ideas, words of some of my favourite punkers that have inspired me in life, as well as the art of photographer friends from around the world will be preserved in such an amazing collection for years to come. I’m super stoked, excited and proud.

Thank you for all the support, encouraging emails/correspondence, of sharing your stories with me and reaching out. Every day I feel like one of the luckiest people in the whole world!

Create Forever!

“If I had to boil it down to one word it would be “kindness.” It goes beyond that, though. Spirituality is a training of the mind and heart in wisdom and compassion practices and ways of living that increase understanding of the way that the world, ourselves or reality really are . Spirituality is also learning how to respond skilfully to the suffering and confusion in the world. The only rational response being to care about it, to feel compassion for all of the confusion and suffering that’s present both personally and in society or the world.” Noah Levine on spirituality (book extract).

In my travels I’ve explored and encountered many different cultures and their unique perspectives and philosophies on life. I’ve come across some things that have fit me well and those that didn’t at all. Something I found that has resonated strongly with me though is the Buddhist idea/concept of The Noble Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path is a collection of eight enduring principles which if taken onboard can help you be and do your best. I’ve found that by incorporating these virtues into my own life it has helped me create things that bring benefit to others and lasting value to people’s lives—inspiring them to take action and make a positive difference themself—as well as my own.

Working with the following tools, I feel you can’t really go wrong. It’s all common sense. I don’t define myself as Buddhist (I find stuff in Buddhism that I don’t necessarily agree with) but I do appreciate and practice the things that ring true to me. Have a read, see what you think & make your own mind up.

We’re all interconnected and interdependent—as are the values associated with the path’s principles: wisdom, ethics & mindful-awareness—maybe have a think about what you’re contributing to the world with what you do in your everyday and of your values and what you believe. I’ve found that when exercising the following steps my life is more successful in all areas.

The Eight Steps to living your best life:

Right View. Right View is understanding your reality. It’s realising that a conditioned existence if unacceptable. It’s visualising your highest potential while maintaining a realistic view of where you’re at and what you’re doing. Ask the questions: How do I see myself? What is my purpose? How does it impact the world? What are my gifts? How am I utilising them? What is my grand vision for my life?

It’s important to have a vision and to really see that vision and believe it. Having a clear idea of self and what you do is a great foundation for anything in life. Often our idea of self can be distorted by ego and delusions. Having Right View will help you see beyond that and influence your day-to-day decisions for the better. If you’re having trouble seeing yourself, why not ask a trusted friend for help. Friends can sometimes see what we can’t. They can give us a fresh perspective on ourselves. It’s time to awaken to the real you… wakey, wakey! Rise and shine.

Having Right View is looking at all the ‘good’ and all the ‘bad’ bits that make up you. Once you acknowledge your truth and accept where you’re at, you can work on changing those things that don’t fit. It can also be about keeping ourselves free from prejudice and superstition.

Right Intention. With your thoughts you create your world and with your intentions you set the tone and dedication of your mission. Your mission is what you do; it should drive and excite you.

Your intentions behind what you do, determines the quality of your interactions and life experience. Choosing your intentions chooses your experience. Ask yourself what is my mission? I’ve found the practice and cultivation of equanimity can be helpful here as it can nurture innovation and promote open-minded thinking. How we think influences how we feel and how we feel affects what we say and what we do.

Right Speech. Think before you speak. Lose the ego and bad attitude. Think about what are you saying? How are you saying it? Right Speech is saying things that matter and that are not hurtful or causes harm to others. That includes things like idle chatter, there’s a lot of people out there that just talk for the sake of talking, silence can definitely be golden sometimes.

I admit that in the past I’ve totally been guilty of saying hurtful things to others (I’m pretty sure that we’ve all been guilty of that at some point). The important thing though is that I woke up and saw what I was doing and have worked super hard every day since to be mindful of my words. I’ve also apologised (where I have been able to) to those I have hurt. As with all these ideas it takes practice, dedication and work.

A funny thing I’ve noticed since consciously practising Right Speech is that sometimes the people that are on the receiving end of what I am saying get a little taken aback by the truth. Maybe at times I haven’t phrased what I’m saying so great, right speech to me is also choosing your words wisely. Think about what it is you’re really trying to say, don’t just grab the first word available and think that’ll do.

Note: Also typing mindfully would fall under Right Speech to me. In our day and age our interactions on the internet, chats, forums etc (our online voice) is equally as powerful. Don’t hide behind your keyboard being a hero gossiping and slagging people off, contribute something of value to discussions—be helpful not hurtful.

Right Action is understanding that your actions have consequences. It’s about walking the walk and talking the talk and treating others how you want to be treated. It’s always a work in progress; we are always upgrading ourselves so obviously it can change moment to moment. It’s basically just not acting in ways that would be dishonest or bring harm to oneself or to others.

Right Livelihood. Seriously, the world needs you to do what you love! When you’re passionate, engaged, aware you’re at your best. It’s all about loving what you do and taking up a vocation that is non-detrimental to others. It’s also appreciating what you have, your talents, and your abilities and using them for the power of good.

Right Effort is combining your intelligence with your intuition. It’s performing at the top of your game. Exercising efficiency in your work, you don’t need to work a million hours a week. It’s about making the effort to work smarter not harder. Exercising Right Effort enhances you productivity. It’s about practice and perseverance, it can take a lot of effort and energy to go against the grain and change our habits and conditioning.

Practising Right Mindfulness is being aware. It’s staying fluid. It’s being a witness. It’s being in the moment. It’s being thoughtful in your actions (if you haven’t noticed yet, all of these principles overlap and work in unison with each other). It’s keeping in mind what motivates you? Please cherish your mind lovelies. To me the Eightfold Noble Path is all about being mindful of yourself and others.

Right Concentration is collecting your energy, focusing and once again staying in the moment. It’s cultivating a strong mind. Meditation has helped me with this. Having clarity of mind can help us do great things.

For more info on the above: Dharma Punx author Noah Levine talks about The Eightfold Path here. Also, the Dharma Punx NYC site has more information on the Eightfold Noble Path and some interesting, helpful talks and guided meditations on everything from dealing with stress & anxiety to working with depression.

Love & light,

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Photo by Silvère Teutsch

“The first Noble Truth is of the truth of suffering and the injustice and oppression that causes greed and suffering in our world and internally within the individual. The Buddha and Buddhists take it to another level of really investigating, asking, “What’s the cause? What’s the solution to this injustice, greed, hatred and confusion?” Punks for the most part don’t get there. Maybe they start saying, “Here’s the cause. We’ll become activists externally in some way.” It seems pretty rare for punks to really take on an inner practice of ridding themselves from the judgments, greed and hatred that cause suffering.” ~Noah Levine (an excerpt from my book).

A not negotiable in my life is meditation. Whether it’s my morning meditations, writing meditations, walking meditation or even just being mindful and aware of what’s going on around me and how I’m contributing to that energy and situation. It helps to keep me balanced, centred and to not get too much into my own head. It helps me to get in touch with myself. It helps me to be present in the moment.
A wonderful friend Noah Levine author of the books Dharma Punx & Against The Stream and founder of the Against The Stream Meditation Society has some helpful meditation MP3s here which could help get you started. The simplest advice he could give me when I asked about meditation tips is:

Awareness of the breath. There is a pretty pervasive misunderstanding of meditation. Most people think that if you are meditating correctly you don’t have any thoughts in your mind at all, that meditation is turning your mind off. Really, the foundation of mindfulness of breath is that thoughts are still happening, you’re just not paying attention to them. You’re not putting all of your attention or awareness in the mind, you’re redirecting it to the body and the experience of the breath. If the attention gets drawn to the thoughts you bring the attention back to the breath over and over—that’s meditation practice. It really works, but it takes a bit of effort. Eventually it gets a bit easier.

Thanks must go to a dear new friend that inspired this post without even knowing it. Connecting with others always gives me things to think about in my life. Maybe when interacting with others throughout your day today ask yourself, what am I learning from this person? There’s a lesson in all situations be them good or bad, we just need to stop and listen.

Love & light,

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