A little while back I posted about a new print zine I’ve made to compliment this blog ConversationsWithBianca.com. The first print run is now gone… thank you to all those that requested one, I am printing up some more in the next couple of days and will send them out to those of you that haven’t recieved yours yet. If you would like one please get in contact/leave a comment. The zine is free and comes with a sampler CD of music I love made by some of my wonderful friends–there’s even a track on it by a musical project I did a few years back called Los Angels and the Conversations With Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue audio trailer. It’s also handbound.
Conversations With Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue zine #1/12 and 12-zine subscriptions should be up and available for pre-order by tomorrow morning (Australia-time) here on the blog.
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.
It caught me by surprise. I wasn’t looking for it. It kind of just snuck up on me. As the saying goes: true love comes when you least expect it. In the summer of 1994, I embarked upon one of the greatest love affairs of my life. It struck like a lightning bolt in the form of a girl as I waited for the bus home after a fruitful day of record rummaging and op shopping in the city centre.
I sat on a bench listening to my walkman starring at my feet to pass time. Over the buzz of crunchy, distorted guitars and inaudible vocals, I could hear the sound of wheels on the pavement coming my way. As force of habit, whenever I hear the sound I can’t help but stop what I’m doing and look in its direction. I grew up surround by skateboard culture—my family has owned skate shops since the ‘80s—and have always been fascinated by skateboarders. In my eyes they were the coolest of the cool: they can fly (pulling off amazing gravity defying feats), they make movement an art form, do what they want, don’t care what you think about them and listen to punk rock. I looked up from my Doc Marten boots and saw a lady rolling towards me. I’d met her through mutual friends that frequented indie rock shows. I was—and often still am—in awe of her. Whatever was ‘happening’ she always seemed to be at the centre of it. I knew her by the name ‘Maggie’. Enter the lightning…
I waved; she saw me, smiled and sat down beside me to chat. I can’t quite remember what it was we spoke about but I do remember the moment she pulled out a little crumpled photocopied booklet kind of thing from her backpack and handed it to me—it hit me… KAPOW! She told me it was her ‘zine’ Mz. Obscure. At this time I had no idea what a zine really was. I flicked through its pages filled with her words, drawings, photography and articles on local bands. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen! Sensing my cluelessness M enlightened me about the world of zines. Just as I was getting swept up in it all—to me it all seemed so magical—my bus pulled up. M and I hugged, said our goodbyes and I spent the next forty minute bus ride home pouring over each and every page. By the time I’d reached my suburban bedroom I’d decided that whatever this awesomeness was in my hand I wanted in.
The concept of making my own publication blew my mind! I’d grown up with a definite magazine addiction—I loved everything about them right down to the new magazine smell. I’ve always been obsessed with magazines and I love writing, and sharing my thoughts and observations with others. I had it figured out that when I finished school and started working I wanted to work at one. Having discovered that you could make your own [maga]zine open up a whole new word of possibilities for me.
Over the next few weeks I made it my mission to find out as much as I could about zines. I wanted to know everything! I started frequenting Rocking Horse Records and Skinnys Records snapping up any zine I could find and reading it from cover to cover. During this time I found Maximum Rock N Roll and Punk Planet. These two publications opened up a direct life line to the worldwide punk community for me. Punk Planet (as well as Slug & Lettuce) in particular brought the world to my doorstep with its take on progressive issues such as politics and feminism; Maximum Rock N Roll quenched my thirst for new music—all three provided me with a path to more zines which I ordered through the mail. Along with the music I was listening to (mostly punk and hip hop), zines helped educate me about the world and turned me on to new ideas and ways of thinking.
My best friend around this period was a girl called Ms. Lizard. I’d met her at an all ages punk show at the Crash n Burn (a legendary live music venue among Brisbane locals). We’d go to every show we possibly could—punk, hardcore, ska, rockabilly, rock—it didn’t matter to us what label, to us it was all equally exciting and allowed us a chance to get out of the house and fend off boredom. Lizard and I grew together and did most things together. We were pretty inseparable so when I fell down the hole to zine land Mz. Lizard came too.
One afternoon sitting on my bedroom floor listening to Green Day, we started putting together our very first zine. We named it Social Stupidity. The name came from a drunken discussion I had one night with an older punk dude from the scene named Ben about the ‘evils’ of our society and how most people just go along with what they’re told to and do what is meant to be done. Both of these things never appealed to me so the name seemed fitting. It makes me cringe to think of it now, but at the time I also liked the name simply ‘cause it seemed pretty punk rock—against society and all that.
Before the issue was even a quarter done, Ms. Lizard bailed on me to go do her own things and I decided to continue onwards solo—by now I was hooked on cutting, pasting, writing, venting my thoughts and reorganising other print media to make my own. The first issue was a mere 16 pages long (which I thought was a grand achievement!) and featured three of my favourite Australian bands Blister, Gilgamesh & Godnose, two (really bad) live reviews of local shows and some demo reviews of cassettes a couple of local bands had given me. I charged $2 for it.
I remember being out one night (and sneaking into) the old Treasury bar in Brisbane (that Blowhard seemed to have a residency at forever!) with my friend James. We ran into Mike Palm from Agent Orange! His band was in town playing Crash n Burn and he decided to seek out some locals before the show for hangs. I’ll never forget showing him my zine and him buying a copy. I tried to give it to him but he was like, ‘It’s important that you support people that put in effort and that are trying to do positive stuff.’ He did add that for $2 I may want to add a few more pages next time… ha! It was nice that he was kind enough to buy it though, and that he was honest enough to call me on the lean content and that he offered me advice in a constructive way—I’ve definitely had more than my far share of haters over the years; people offering their opinions and thoughts in a not-so-nice way about my work (I’ve been threatened with violence on more than one occasion and I’ve even had someone say they wanted to kill me if they ever saw me in the street). Meeting Mike will always stick in my mind and be a fond memory.
Today his advice is as right on as ever—support those that are out there doing something positive and make sure you give folks quality (and value).
Just a super quick update to let you know I’ve added a new page to this blog ‘My Interviews’. I’m starting an online archive of some of my work from the past decade+. As there’s hundreds of interviews for me to go through it’s going to be at a slow, but steady paced process. If there’s any particular interview you’re stinging to read and would like me to post a.s.a.p. from the list of band/artist names here let me know and I’ll do my best to find it. First interviews up are: Avail, Bleeding Through, Deathcage & Del The Funky Homosapien.
Also, the blog will start to evolve a little more over the coming weeks so stay tuned for all those happenings. I’m also going to open myself up for answering any questions you guys may have about interviewing, zines, networking, self-publishing, freelancing, music writing or anything else that tickles your fancy that I may have some insight on. I love opening up thoughtful discussion and the sharing of information so if you have questions, ask away!
In other news my niece Matisse Rose has asked me to come to her school to talk about doing what you love for a living. In an OMG! moment, Matisse told me she did a speech/presentation on me for a school assignment… it’s so humbling to know my niece digs what I do… makes all those frustrating hours transcribing and waiting around for M.I.A. artists worthwhile.
“In fact, punk rock means exemplary manners towards your fellow human being”
~Joe Strummer
Punk rock and hip hop music have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have my older brother and sisters with their schizophrenic cassette tape and record collections to thank for getting me into it, and my life off to a running start. It’s helped inspire me along the path to fighting the good fight.
Both punk and hip hop culture has helped educate me about the world we live in (as well as other dimensions—just ask Gift of Gab :))—but that’s a discussion for another day… ha, ha!). They’ve helped craft my values; ideas shared in the music and lyrics have influenced my views on the world and helped shaped my beliefs. They’ve encouraged me to open my eyes to my own potentiality and helped unlock my heart. They’ve empowered me with tools to do anything I want to in life. The cultures provide a platform in which I can have a voice and the friends that I have made on my journey navigating the cultures make me feel like I matter. Being a part of the communities for over half my life has helped illuminate my awareness and nurture my self-awareness. In a way, it feels like they have been parents to me… mi familia.
Time and time again punk (I include hardcore too, it’s all punk to me) and hip hop, facilitate the experience of being wholly present in the moment. When I am present I feel truly alive, time seems to stop and nothing else matters beyond that moment. It is something profoundly sacred to me, pure and beyond words. I know that many of you reading this will totally know what I mean. Those who get it will and those who don’t won’t … and that’s totally fine too! I just speak from what I know to be true for me, from my heart and my experience.
Conversations with Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue is by far my most ambitious project to date (it is only the beginning :)). It is a celebration of mi familia and a discovery and journey of self. It’s an exercise in questioning, asking why and how? It’s all about conversations on the pursuit of happiness. It prompts you to reflect on your own life and dig deeper for your best. It’s about sharing information and (hopefully) opening up thoughtful discussion.
Conversations with Punx… is the foundation for this site and an extension of the community of like-minded individuals championing creativity across the globe that is always building slowly yet surely (sometimes in secret… I love the underground, bedroom jams and crafts from the kitchen table). It’s a coming together in celebration of individuality and commonalities. It’s about the human condition and life… one that I am thankful to have.
In short: 60+ conversations with creators from the punk and hardcore world sharing their thoughts & feelings on and experiences with creativity, music and spirituality! How exciting!
It’s been six years since I first started the project. I had the idea for it around a year or so before that. In a way I’ve felt that everything I have done and everything I’ve learnt along the way has propelled me to this point… so my friends, this has been a loooong time coming. Thank you to all who have supported and who continue to support both me and my projects. Thanks old friends and new friends, each of you means the world to me. I appreciate that you care, as I do too. We understand each other; we’re on that same frequency (no matter if we’re into punk, hip hop or something else entirely—we all ultimately want to be happy and are on a search for our truth—whatever that means for us). This project is for the True Hearts, True Believers & the Truth Seekers.
Now without further ado the news you’ve all been waiting (patiently) for…
Conversations with Punx: A Spiritual Dialogue release details:
The book will first be released as a series of limited-edition handmade zines over a twelve-month period. Each issue will feature around 5 conversations possibly more (there are still a few I’m finishing up now). They’ll be around 60-70 pages in total give or take a few.
A new issue will be released each month. Each issue will be available to order from the first day of the month until the last day of the month. Once the month is up though that’s it, you will have to wait for the limited edition (numbered) hardcover book release or the concise paperback edition (which will feature additional conversations never before seen).
To get a piece of my [he]art to your letter box (old school) post style—it’ll be super fun to receive more than only bills every month—you will be able to choose your own adventure and purchase as you go (month by month) or get it as a 12-month subscription. If you make the one-off subscription payment you will be really and truly helping me fund the project! As a thank you, you will receive the zines at a cut-rate price as well as having the option to receive a (currently) top secret bonus I’m working on. I’m trying my best to pull it all together as soon as I can, I want to make sure I give you guys my best though as you do to me.
More details to be released soon…
Kind words from kind people:
“I’m looking forward to reading the finished piece. I’m glad that you are getting so much out of the process.”
~Ian MacKaye
“Can’t wait to hold a copy of the book in my hands!”
~Vic DiCara
“Can’t wait to see the book, so happy to be a part of it. Go Bianca!”
~Jonah Matranga
“I’m psyched to see the finished product.”
~Rob Fusco
“I look forward to reading the book and thank you again for having me be a part of it… it’s such a worthwhile project”
~Robert Ehrenbrand
“I am really happy with our conversation and it is very gratifying to know that it will be out there in the world… you really have a fantastic journalistic style. I think you are on the right path with your book and with your interest in spirituality… keep up your excellent work… I think it’s an important book.”
~Jesse Michaels
I hope you guys are digging the way I’ve decided to release the project. It’s taken me a long while to reach the decision of how to release this work. I thought about it, a lot! I asked a lot of people for advice. Personally, I didn’t want to release it as a book and then that’s it—as what often happens—there’s so many books released every day. I wanted to do something more with it. I wanted to create something wonderful, something sincere, meaningful and long lasting—to create something special. The thoughts contained on the pages are too thoughtful, extraordinary and important.
Dannii, Anthony, Jhonny and Everett thank you for having conversations with me on the day I decided to release the project this way… your words, thoughts and opinions help guide my decision—without you even knowing it!
So many people I spoke to just wanted me to release it as a book (apparently releasing a book comes with prestige (ha!)) and while I can’t wait for the book (!!!) I knew I wanted to do something else too. Ian’s words, ‘I’m glad that you are getting so much out of the process’ made me stop and think about the process… I came to the conclusion that I’m still not done with the process. I’m still really enjoying myself, now more than ever. Now it’s getting really exciting because I’m sharing it with you guys and making so many new friends worldwide. I want to give it the release it deserves. I’ve always been reluctant to just hand the book and its contents over to someone else. I had thoughts of ‘Would they change it?’, ‘Not get it?’, and ‘Just try to cash in from it?’ The people I’m working with to bring you it, are remarkable, good people… you’ll find out more about them as the process unfolds.
Part of why I wanted to release it as a series of zines over 12-months is because to do something like that takes a commitment. I wanted to commit to myself and I wanted to create something beautiful—handmade zines (to start) just felt right. Making that commitment means that I have to be on my game at all times, I have to organise myself, look after myself, stay healthy, positive, rise to challenges, learn new things (my Jhonny is teaching me to screen-print the zine covers!), push myself past my limitations… in short, it’s a commitment to me living my best life.
Releasing it over 12-months also gives you guys a chance to really absorb the stories, lessons, love in each conversation and hopefully find something that rings true to you that you can take onboard and utilise to make changes—lasting, positive changes in your life. As a whole piece, the 60+ conversations can be really, really intense!! Even to me, who has looked at them every single day over the last 6 years, I find it overwhelming! I laugh, I cry, I shake my head in disbelief or nod in agreement or disagreement as I read. Some of the conversations just make me want to give the person I’m speaking to a big old hug—they’ve all given so much of themselves to their creativity, art and the world. They inspire me by being themselves and following their heart for better or worse.
From day one of this project I have told myself that the bottom line is to enjoy the process, keep my mind and heart open, make new friends and contribute something positive and rad to the world…. and it’s been so far so good. Thank you for joining me on my journey. Let’s commit to the next part together. Let’s encourage each other to live our best life.
As the exquisite, strong, inspiring lady Corey Parks told me:
We’re not victims of circumstance; we create our own reality. I love that we can draw anything to us through the laws of attraction and that through the power of our words we can access anything we want in life. I want to have a life beyond my wildest dreams. That’s my divine right. That’s your divine right. That’s Duane’s divine right and little Clash’s here [laughs].
