Best (Un)dressed: How Porn Invaded the Fashion World

[First published on GQ Australia.com.au]

Fashion has a long history commenting on all things once considered taboo. And while the likes of Tom Ford and Calvin Klein have a reputation for selling their wares on the allure of sex, now, their contemporaries are straight up stand and delivering.

Of course, it’s not a new discourse on intercourse. Designers, even ‘high-brow' ones, like Walter Van Beirendonck and Comme des Garcon have long weaved bondage and fetish motifs into their designs. Even now, as you read this article, Richardson’s new bondage collection is available.

But porn itself, in all its well-lit glory, is becoming, dare we say, fashionable.

Read more here.

Why Can’t Australia Make Hip-Hop Festivals Work?

[First published on Junkee]

It’s not clear who of the headliners, or how many, hadn’t been granted visas in time. But either way you string it, it’s Groundhog Day for hip-hop festivals in Australia. Supafest, Soulfest, Movement Festival, Rap City, and more have all struggled to break through, falling prey to the fate of rap festivals in Australia.

A number of artists have faced their fair share of difficulties over the years too. Tyler, the Creator has finally been granted entry into Australia despite not being accepted since 2015. And just last year Skepta was denied entry for his tour on the basis of character grounds, but had the decision overturned.

Lil Uzi Vert, Ski Mask tha Slump God, Young Thug, Snoop Dog, and countless others have all pulled out of, or not made, booked appearances in Australia over the years, for a number of reasons. So why can’t we make it work?

Read more here.

Friendly Fires’ walk through the wilderness

[First published in Forté]

Until now the band have been laying low. Aside from a few singles, Friendly Fires haven’t put out a record since 2012.

So, what have they been doing?

Read more here.

Igor: Tyler the Creator [Review]

[First Published in Forté #716]

Tyler Okonma has long had a fascination with alter egos: Wolf Hayley; a Goblin; therapists. He likes the bad parts of ourselves we’d rather not discuss – like Victor Frankenstein rejecting his horrendous monster. Tyler embraces it with a warm hug instead.

Continue reading here. 

Run Fast Sleep Naked: Nick Murphy [Review]

[First Published in Forte #715]

The Murphy we were familiar with peeks his head through the veneer on ‘Some People’ and ‘Sunlight’, like a house plant you bought for responsibility might do, looking for the light to grow. Perhaps the dirty-30 is Murphy’s turning point— Run Fast Sleep Naked is his proverbial “grown up” job.

Continue reading here.

Ball Park Music Can't Get Enough of Each Other

[First Published in Forté #713]

When Ball Park Music met at University in Brisbane, Myspace was still a thing. That’s how long it’s been. Dean Hanson doesn’t think the band has changed much since then. It’s hard to notice any change when you spend as much time together as Ball Park Music do. Even when they’re not performing, they’re together every day, “playing squash, golf, drinking beers, eating smashed avo. It’s like we can’t get enough of each other,” Hanson says.

Continue reading here.

Review: John Mayer Live at Rod Laver Arena

[First Published in Forté]

Though you could tell it was much to his disdain, Mayer heeded requests from the crowd – admitting that the songs mentioned were actually good ones. The set list covered deep cuts as well as the hits. ‘Heartbreak Warfare’ received an extended guitar solo from Mayer, and performed both ‘Waiting on the World to Change’, and ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room’ as teased out renditions.

Image by Joshua Braybook

Read the whole review here.

Yungblud Profile

[First Published in Forté #707]

“I’m fucking gassed mate,” says Dominic Harrison over the phone from London. Harrison, better known as Yungblud, has a new single, ‘Loner’, due for release in two hours (at time of interview).

Openly chiding how Rock ‘n’ Roll is at the moment, Harrison emphasises that he’s bringing back some attitude and solidarity. Rock n Roll, in his words, “at the minute, it’s got no fucking bollocks.”
“Everyone’s just eating Guacomole (pronounced: GWACKAMOLEY), in their fake fuckin’ vegan leather jackets, fucking, from nine to five drinking voss water. It’s not Rock ‘n’ Roll man.”

Read the rest of the profile here.