Cruising with Carla I

A mixed CD I originally made for Carla B, which I now share with you! Good for cruising and grooving, enjoy!

Cruising With Carla I from themondayissue on 8tracks Radio.

1. Losing You - Solange
2. Feathers - Riding Paper Airplanes
3. Love Love Love - Avalanche City
4. Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry
5. Lonely Moon - The Cat Empire
6. Sleep In The Park - Solange
7. The Moneymaker - Rilo Kiley
8. Void Reprise - Seekae
9. Easy - Buckley Ward
10. Lover - San Cisco
11. Turn me On - Norah Jones
12. Le Temps de l'Amour - Francoise Hardy
13. The Fight - Sia
14. Leave You In Love - Gold Motel
15. This Tornado Loves You - Neko Case
16. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes

My 1440: Foxx On Fire

March Into The Sun - Foxx On Fire

Day 223: Style Miles & Avalanche City

Love Love Love by Avalanche City

Tonight I went to the launch of Contiki's Research Report 2011 - research is conducted annually regarding trends of travel and is each year presented through themes. Last year's was environmentally focussed - 'Shades of Green' - however this year's focus is 'Style Miles,' trends of travel as realised via food, music, art and fashion - revealed to be valued most-to-least by travellers in this order. It is fascinating to note how paradigms and trends of travel have changed over time and likewise to observe how Contiki seems to be changing, too - to be growing up. The penthouse of the Ivy was right out of Peter Sellers' film 'The Party,' but my night was most made by the intimate performance by upcoming New Zealand folk band Avalanche City's Dave, Romelli and Strahan (the coolest manjo player).

Oxford Art Factory: Patrick James and Lange Theory

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Matt Walters

Carla, Miranda and I first saw Matt play at the Metro in 2009 when he was the support for Jenny Lewis. We've been hooked ever since. Who was this singer who threw off his harmonica in frustration, sang such delicate narratives and worked the guitar with such talent? Two years later now, after many more support acts, Matt has brought out his first album since, and after living off the four songs on his 'Echo On' EP and past albums, it can be said that it was well worth the wait. Carla, Miranda and I interviewed him after his first headline show, at the Vanguard, for the release of his new album, 'Farewell Youth.'

How does it feel having your first headline show? 

Very overwhelming. It's just been a beautiful journey. You do what you love and what you're passionate about and good things come; good people come into your life. I'm really interested in doing a career so the way I'm going about it is exactly how I want to go about it. Put music out and play the shows, put another album out and just keep going. 

You mentioned [during the performance] having difficulty with recording albums. (Matt has already made two: 'Like Therapy' (2001) and 'The Moon, the Stars, the People')

Well, 'Like Therapy' - I was fifteen when I made that. It was terrible. Then I quit for a while and went to uni and then I couldn't take it anymore. 

What did you study at uni?

Film, at RMIT in Melbourne. I wanted to be a filmmaker.

How has your album making journey been? How many have you made, or tried to make? 

Well, when I got signed back in '08, we tried to make it in London. That didn't work out. I just wasn't happy with it. Then, in Sydney we gave it a shot, and then Melbourne, and then I headed back to Sydney and made it - and that was that record. It felt right and good... I wanted to be happy with it and it took me a while to get to that point. 

Where does the title 'Farewell Youth' come from? 

For me, I feel completely different about where I'm at and who I am now. So at twenty-five, I feel very comfortable, feel very happy to be doing what I'm doing, don't really care what other people think as much. Younger years are filled with a lot of anxiety... so it's about all that stuff - anxiety, self consciousness. But now I feel really happy to be alive and really loving what I do, and I love music. So it's all the stuff that came out of that time. Also, it's a really pop-y record, for me. 

What do you think about when you're on stage? What does it feel like?

It's f**king weird. I feel like a bit of a clown. But I've gotten better at trying to enjoy playing the song. 

Do you have a favourite song to play? St Peter's Gate

What are your inspirations? Books, a lot. Other music, definitely. 

What was the last book you read? A music biography about a band called the Blue Nile. I love music biographies, I really like non-fiction. 

What's your songwriting process? Painful. I get an idea - so that as well is part of the Farewell Youth thing - an idea would circulate in my mind for a while. And I'm not a very proactive person with creativity. In every other aspect of my life - I have a really clean room, I'm not an all-over-the-shop person. But with creativity I'm completely all over the shop. So, I'll get an idea, think about it, then I'll doubt it, and I'll think 'Oh, it's actually pretty good,' well maybe that theory could work. So it's slow. I'm trying to get a little quicker at it. So those songs [on Farewell Youth] are over of couple years.

Is it like being a perfectionist? Maybe. You just feel right when it's cooked. It's like being a chef, I guess - you know when it's right and ready to do something. There's nothing worse than having something that's undercooked.  

Where's your favourite place in the world? New York City

Who've you enjoyed working with the most? 

Meg Washington was pretty cool, she's very talented. Kim Richey, on the album. Pete Karpin, who signed me at Universal, he's amazing. 

Where do you hope to be in five years time? I move to the States next year. So I guess, I'll be there.

Where abouts? I'm going to be based in Austin, TX for a while - there's a really cool music scene there. Also, I just did a publishing deal, so I'll be writing a lot of songs for other people as well as myself. 

Myspace

Review: Born This Way (album) - Lady Gaga

Love her or hate her, Lady Gaga is back. And boy, is she bigger than ever. Already, the reviews are starting to pour in for her second album, Born This Way (including myself). In fact, I have written this as soon I finished the album. And what. An. Album.

Gaga plays every character imagined - a hooker, an immigrant, a biblical figure, to name a few – all while spreading her message of love. The songs were recorded all over the world – Paris, Sydney, Milan, even her tour bus. Her styles are diverse, from mariachi bands (oh, yes) to club beats to drum lines borrowed form Queen for some rock n’ roll. And English is not the only language. German, Spanish, French – Lady Gaga has no restrictions on any areas she touches.

Opening the album is Marry The Night, a dance track about her commitment to not wallowing in self pity and instead, going out and facing things head on. This flows onto Born This Way, a song that has already become an anthem to many to celebrate who they are.

After this is when things get weird. Songs like Government Hooker and Americano are not the Gaga we know, but it is definitely the one we love. Both songs have a musical feel about them, as in, I could see them being part of a show, especially Americano. The song positions Gaga as an immigrant falling in love with a woman and is what I consider to be a standout on the album. It’s Latino feel, her singing in Spanish, repetitive ‘la la la’ are all topped off with the catchy ‘Ahhh, america, americano’ and ‘I don’t speak your, I don’t speak your, Americano’. The dance beats and the mariachi band are an amazing combination I would have never seen as working, but it does.

The album continues in this manner, with a lot of religious imagery and messages to love yourself and then spread this love to everyone else. Yoü and I is a classic rock tune, with help from Queen guitarist Brian May. The production on this song is wonderful and worth giving a listen to. Gaga is in her element here, the energy and passion she feels radiating through as she sings her guts out.

The album closes with The Edge Of Glory and is the perfect end. Overall, the album is good, although some songs are stronger than others, and reflects a lot of hard work. While the album will not sit well with everyone, there is no doubt Gaga is the face of Pop and will continue to take over the pop world. And personally, I do not mind.

Carla B

Review: Matt Walters, Farewell Youth album and launch - the Vanguard

MATT WALTERS' ‘FAREWELL YOUTH’ ALBUM LAUNCH AND ALBUM REVIEW by Carla B

Music is a very powerful thing. It is one of the most important aspects of my life and one of the only constants as everything else changes. However, it can also be very hit-or-miss. Sometimes it just doesn’t speak to you or touch you on a personal level. I am glad to say that while this does sometimes occur, it is practically erased when you listen to the good.

Let’s introduce Matt Walters, a lovely, intellectual singer-songwriter who hails from Melbourne. I first saw him perform live two years in what has always remained a magical experience for me. As the opening act to Jenny Lewis, I had no idea what to expect from him. But it was definitely a hit. His voice is extremely soothing and his guitar work is amazing. He doesn’t rely on only love songs to tell a story and instead sings about many different aspects of life, such as friendship, hell and murder.

So, when you wait for someone to tour for two years, and after you’ve hyped up the experience in your mind, it can a bit scary going back. What if the magic didn’t exist? What if it’s lost, buried in a memory and cannot be revived? Needless to say, going to see Matt Walters this past Wednesday did not disappoint. The magic has remained.

Matt’s new album, Farewell Youth, has just been released and this record release show at the Vanguard was exactly that for him; as his first headlining show in Sydney, to a room of people there just for him, it was a definite departure from his earlier days of being the opening act.

The lovely Leena fulfilled this role, with her pretty melodies and delicate “anti-love songs”. Switching between piano and guitar, she belted out harmonies with her guitarist, Steve, and was ever so grateful to the audience. Her charisma on stage was charming and she even got a cry of “I love you” from one eager audience member. Not bad for a support act.

Matt then took the stage, with a full band in tow. This was the first time he’d played with a band in a couple of years and you could tell he was enjoying the accompaniment. Mainly playing songs from his new album (something he eventually stopped saying, when he realised it was fairly obvious), you could tell that these songs all meant something special to him and he was glad to share them. A lovely acoustic version of the non-album track Talking In My Sleep was a stand out, as he rocked out all alone on the stage, but completely in the zone. He humbly thanked the audience and shared stories of his long journey to record the album, stating he was really proud of it. Always nice to know.

The debut album is an amazing array of songs, showcasing Matt’s abilities and proving he not only loves what he does, but that he does it with his whole heart in it. The backing band is a welcome addition to his music and flows so naturally with his sound. Personal experiences make up the album, along with songs that sound like love songs, but are actually about murder, something Matt kindly pointed out. The album also features many guest performances, including Megan Washington, who is also quickly increasing in popularity.

One of my favourite songs on the album is Conversation. Check out the video and be sure not to miss this guy. Who knows where he’ll be in five years time.

Carla

p.s. I request You and Your Holy Ghost for the next show.

Day 118: OAF

I filmed for Stone Monks at the Oxford Art Factory. Video above put together by Ryan Whitty.

Super K-POP Concert Sydney: Korea Friendship Concert (SHINee, Shin Seung Hoon & Son Ho Young)

SHINee: Onew, Taimin, Minho, Key, Jonghyun (absent)

The term unprecedented is often used today to describe many situations undeserving of such an adjective, however the Super K-POP concert at Town Hall, on Wednesday January 12th, starring the Korean megastars SHINee, the iconic contemporary R&B group catalyst of the SHINee fashion trend currently spreading across Asia; Shin Seung Hoon, the "Emperor of Ballad" celebrating his 20th year in the charts; and Son Ho Young, previously a member of one of Korea's most successful groups g.o.d., cannot be described as anything less. Australia has yet to be properly exposed to the marvels of Korean Pop music, let alone in such a capital abundance - so what be the occasion, you ask? The 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Korea! In tradition, a 50th anniversary calls for the exchanging of gifts of gold, and indeed this is exactly what this concert was. As the Korean representative mentioned, along with his translator, hopefully a greater awareness of Korean culture will grow in Australia. And after the Super K-POP concert, may we please suggest that a most effective way to encourage such awareness would be to fulfil this request: 

MORE K-POP PLEASE ^^

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Lucifer - SHINee

Sofie's video of SHINee arriving at the airport in the morning

Friday Night at Oxford Art Factory

oxfordartfactory.com

Alan Tanner

words and interview conduction by Carla B

Alan Tanner has long been one of my favourite film clip directors, purely because his work is always interesting. In fact, his ideas range from quirky to intriguing to weird, and everything in between. Not only does he remain constant in his good film-making, but the number of bands he has worked with is extensive; it includes many great artists such as Conor Oberst, Jenny Lewis, M. Ward and Tilly and the Wall. What makes his film clips stand out is his willingness and ability to play with ideas and create something different, such as for the Mynabirds' Numbers Don't Lie. 

When I first watched this clip, I admit I had no idea what was going on. But that is what makes Alan Tanner's work so amazing; each time you watch a film clip again, you pick up on something you missed and it is still as good as when you first watched it. So, after watching this film clip a few more times, I saw things I hadn't initially. This is also a great display of Alan's ability to suit his own ideas with a song, without it being a recount of the lyrics.

Alan's work does not stop at film clips though; he has made a series of weekly videos for Saddle Creek Records, all of which are comical and a great satire of what life is like at the Saddle Creek headquarters. From them, we have learnt of Kate Taylor's hatred of chai lattes and Alan's hard work when working on these videos . What I like about these videos is that Alan has managed to capture the comical nature of many shows I watched as a child, with overacting and often very limited dialogue, such as with Holly Jolly Springmas.

Alan Tanner's work has continued to be entertaining, and even though he has been out of action for a while, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Mr Tanner.

What have you have been doing recently?

Just helped my girlfriend move here (Los Angeles) from Omaha Ne. It's been raining for like two weeks, so I've been spending a lot of time convincing her that it's not always this gloom doom.

How did you get into film-making/directing? What made you start?

Basically, I started directing so that I could cast myself in good acting roles. That hasn't panned out like I thought it would.

Your videos are always visually and conceptually diverse, for example comparing Time Lapse Lifeline and See Fernando. What is your creative process? 

Well, I think that most of my videos have a common theme in that the characters are always deadly serious about doing some really dumb stuff.

You used to play guitar for Maria Taylor. Are you still pursuing music or playing music of your own?

I spend more energy trying to think up cool band names, and musical concepts than I do practicing guitar, or writing songs. That's always been my downfall when it comes to music.

Why no more Saddle Creek Weekly movies? The ‘super soft’ one in particular was hilarious.

I really liked that one as well. CJ is hysterical. I would love to do more of them, unfortunately it's a lot harder to create relative material now that I'm living so far away from those guys. I always loved the concept of the weekly movies. I'm actually in the process of putting together a very similar project right now.

What is your favourite film clip of all time? Has it influenced your work?

I just went to see Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World for the second time. That movie is completely blowing my mind and stuff.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Turkey Pot Pie.

If you were a serial killer, what would your trademark be?

Count Chocula.

How did you get into the Omaha/Saddle Creek scene?

Maria Taylor, Orenda Fink, and Neely Jenkins.

What’s next for Alan Tanner?

Less music, more talkies.

www.alantanner.com