Conversations with Jack Medland // RHYTHM

It’s a different world down here in the small coastal town of Yallingup, Western Australia. A far cry from the dormancy of a city in lockdown, where fear and the screeching sound of the seven o’clock news controls the general population. Down here Mother nature rules, she is our master. When you’re surrounded by a million stars and wake to the sound of birds chirping and offshore winds with beautiful glassy swells, you begin to forget that we’re still emerging from a global pandemic. It comes as no surprise that this is where surfer, shaper & Rhythm ambassador Jack Medland chooses to reside…

Jack since you were a young grommy you've been intrigued by surfing culture & the art of shaping. Can you tell us about your relationship with Ross at Soul Board store and how this all started?

 I first started working with Ross when he agreed to show us how to fix dings in return for sweeping the floors at about age 13. I was blown away by the collection of old mals and various memorabilia he had buried in amongst his shop. I was quickly hooked especially after he made me this beautiful 9’1 hybrid log one morning when I turned up for my Saturday morning shift. Ross and the staff there became my ultimate role models and that is how I became so indulged in surf culture and the art of shaping.

The first board you ever shaped...

 A green and yellow thruster reshaped out of an old kite-surf board we found at the tip.  Stripped the glass off and remodelled it.

Why have you decided to base yourself in the small coastal town of Yallingup?

A beautiful coastline with epic waves, great wine and good people.

Jack your surfing style is timeless, elegant & somewhat classy. Who are your biggest influencers? Whether that be jazz musicians or wild west cowboys...

 My biggest influencers in terms of surfing would be the old boys here in Yallingup. They lived and surfed throughout the greatest period of evolution in surfing. I love sitting up on the hill listening to them burn off stories of the good ol’ days.

It's inspiring to see more West Aussies express the multi-dimensional talent that we have oozing from these shorelines. How would you describe the surfing scene from West to East?

 There is so much talent here in WA. That’s one thing I love about it.  From big wave chargers to wipper-snapping groms or the next generation of loggers.

Its such a diverse range of surfers and whether or not they are pro or it’s a hobby, it doesn’t seem to matter to the community because everyone’s just out there having fun.

 You started Moonshine Surfboards in 2019... tell us the story behind that name.

 Still fresh but a long time pal Pete Dwyer and I came up with the name to represent the fact that we are out here makin’ boards in the wild west.

 Where do you see your business heading in the next five years?

 Trying to take each day as it comes but I would like to think of having my own workshop for cars, boards, music and memorabilia. The ultimate den.

Favourite album on vinyl?

 The Legendary Jim Croce

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INTERVIEW, PHOTOS & VIDEO for Rhythm

LIME CORDIALE x Deus Temple of Enthusiasm

At the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm, music is an important part of our philosophy, and we pride ourselves on being able to find great bands and musicians from far and wide, especially for events, such as our Deus 9ft & Single Art, Music, Film & Surf Festival. For us, good music is a must. In fact, at our events, we have one night dedicated to it. Friday night, sandwiched between Film on Thursday and an Art Gallery opening on Saturday is the slot we set out to fill, and we reckon we aced it this year when we managed to persuade Australian band Lime Cordiale to shoehorn another gig, in their already super busy touring schedule. Everyone at the Temple were super stoked. What we didn’t know it at the time but the band were also more than ecstatic to jet over to Bali for the weekend, and boy oh boy, did it go off!

Once the dust had settled from the 9ft weekend, hangovers abated and a normal speed of life slid back into place, I had the opportunity to chat with brothers, Oli & Louis Leimbach, who are the quintessence of Lime Cordiale, delving a little deeper into their charismatic tunes and creative life, both in and out of music. Here’s what they have to say…

// Growing up in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, how did the creative culture surrounding your hometown influence your work?

We started writing songs on acoustic guitars, but our first few gigs were at bars that we’d pack out with everyone we knew. We inevitably moved to electric guitars, cranked up the volume and subconsciously changed the groove to get people dancing. It’s hard to win over a drunk crowd and you can’t be subtle. As the venues changed, our style evolved. But we’ve always written music that we’d want to listen to ourselves… and hopefully our friends too.

// The official music video for the track ‘Temper Temper’ which was released late last year is beautifully kooky & seriously enthralling to watch. What were some of the highlights involved in the production?

In order to achieve that slight stop-motion effect, we filmed everything at 25% and then sped it up x4. It meant that on set we were moving and singing along to a super slow song. And 25% is really really slow. The song was unrecognisable even to us, so even with all the rehearsals we’d get lost and have to do the whole damn slow thing all over again.

// Living, working & gigging around the globe with your bro is pretty special. Have you guys been close since kids?

Like any young brothers, we weren’t too crazy about each other. But we’d go on holiday as a family and be forced to hang out together. It’s meant that we know how to deal with each other. We definitely piss each other off at times but we tend to get over it in a matter of minutes. The major bummer is that we’re always the ones having to share the double bed if we’re touring on a budget… and we are on a budget most of the time. Even though we were pretty different as kids, we’ve ended up liking the same things and sharing the same hobbies, so we have a lot of fun on tour.

// How do you express yourselves creatively outside of music?

Louis is a great visual artist. His recent work with lino-cut has made up a lot of our album covers, merchandise and tour posters. It’s pretty crazy shit and I think he’s the only one that truly knows what his artworks are about. I’ve always enjoyed filmmaking and making the music videos is my outlet. All forms of art-making are time-consuming pursuits so a lot of the time we prefer to rest our minds and go for a surf or a beer instead.

// Louis the linocuts you’ve whipped up for the previous album artworks are stunning. Does Bruce Goold happen to be an influence on your work?

The two of us made a documentary about Bruce with our Dad recently. That’s where we really absorbed ourselves with his work. It was the conversation at every family dinner for over a year. Bruce is an undiscovered genius. He has the ability to tell a detailed story through one artwork and that’s something that is also a big influence on our songwriting too.

// Will we see Lime Cordiale hit the vinyl? I feel like it’s your kind of vibe.

It already has and they’ve sold out! More on their way. They take a while. We must be waiting for candles to burn in the Czech Republic before they can print to wax.

// Grungiest live music bar you’ve had the pleasure of playing at?

We’ve played a set in downtown Las Vegas a few times. We were scheduled to go on at 2am but the whole night was running behind. When a couple of Aussies are expected to stay sober until 3am for their only night in Vegas… it’s not gonna happen. Playing in Canggu for you guys was pretty grungy in its own way. You often get some pretty moody sound engineers at venues but that was never going to happen with a crew of Balinese lads!

This interview was curated for Deus Ex Machina, Temple of Enthusiasm

GRAB YA TROLLEYS

Frozen meat pies and Smith chips have almost taken over the popularity of toilet paper… almost.

The multinational corporation Costco opened its doors in Perth on March 19th, to over 20,000 hangry hoarders. The vibe was, thankfully, quite mellow. With lines starting to form around the 14,000 square metre warehouse at 2 am, you could imagine the morning sun before it arrived, shining its light onto this great beacon of hope: Costco, the holy grail of toilet paper supplies. I arrived at 10 am and thought I’d missed all the excitement. However, there was still a line wrapped around the building, trolleys at the ready, membership cards waiting to be swiped, and all respectful behaviour in preparation for the apocalypse.
On a serious note, there are some families that live pay check to pay check, day-to-day. When you’re just trying to get by, bulk buying isn’t even an option. So be kind, be gentle, and remember to look after your local community and small business owners. We’re all in this together!

This article was featured on Monster Children

Australian Exploration

What is it that draws us to these places? These small towns where the local pie shop and mellow right hander are all that are beautifully on offer. Apart from the lush bushland & ascending headlands that gape in grandeur when you perch yourself on the edge of their rocky outcrop, the small community feel & cruisey vibes of this town are what keep drawing us back. We headed three hours South in dribs & drabs post Noosa surf festival. 

Within days we had a solid crew of wave dancers & water hooligans. Weeks like these, when parking up at the point carpark, cooking up meals out the back of your van, having quality chats with the locals & surfing at least six hours a day was all that we lived for. The cars wouldn’t move until dusk came and the sun settled over the headland. Waves still rolling in, and the moon rising above the sea.

The first week the Atlas crew rented a little house up on the hill which was laden with beautiful books & tales of the sea, vintage surf posters & fresh aloe vera pot plants to soothe the sunburn. The owners really had it going on in that place. After a solid day spent down at the point, it was pretty great to be able to go back to the house and continue feeding our stoke by watching old surf flicks haha. Endless froth.

There were a few quirky characters that really made this little trip down the coast special for me. Albe Falzon and Ric Mandu. Albe… with so many adventures & creative projects explored in a lifetime, including the making of one of the most iconic surf films Morning of the Earth, it was pretty awesome to chat about life behind the lens. From his time in Tibet shooting a pilgrim festival in the Wesak Valley to quantum physics and spirituality.

And then Ric. Ric can be described as an affiable old sea dog with the generosity of an unemployed philanthropist. Living in a community out in the bushland & collecting old surboards, Ric does things a little differently, and we couldn’t love him more for it. Always there with a smile & quality chat, he made my day when he let me borrow his 9’6 Donald Takayama longboard. The gift of a board at a break like that is the gift of over one hundred waves; and that is pure joy.

There’s one thing that brings all of us together- all these people from different scopes of the globe, young and old, wise and eager- a divine love for the ocean. The people that you meet out in the surf are generally the best kinds of people. Not being biased or anything, but seriously.

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For Atlas Label

MOJITO - 1979 BUS REVAMP

It’s not very often you have the opportunity to design & paint someone’s home, especially when it’s a mobile 1979 Leyland bus. Pete & Maria, a local couple living in Exmouth Western Australia bought Mojito a few years ago already decked out with a beautifully minimalistic & self-sustaining interior. It was just the outside that needed a little slap of colour… beautiful earthy hues & strong clean lines. Californian retro meets Australian desert. This is Mojito.

The project took a month, sporadically in between surfs & tinnie missions out to the national park. One day I might be painting for eight hours, others two. Desert fever is a real thing here. We made a joke that even the engine has racing stripes on it, because legitimately every inch of this bus from the roof to the finer details on the back has been covered in paint, and that’s how we like it.

A few days after completing Mojito, a few of us drove it out to this wide desert plain on the gulf of Exmouth. A perfect setting where it would fit right in, but also stand right out. We jumped on the roof and had the disco tunes blaring as we pretty much created a scene from a bad 70’s movie. Beers in hand from the built-in keg down below, and a euphoric sense of joy as we danced to the sun setting over the vast desert plain. One of the best afternoons to date. And how rewarding to see your work come into fruition, knowing that this is someone’s home, that is something special. Celebrating this final moment with your mates just tops tops it off completely. If anyone had drove past that gravel track, they sure would’ve been in for a bit of entertainment…

Available for van & bus revamps in Australia & overseas.

Featured on Vanlife Diaries

Wandering Gumnuts - Liv & Jack

I first met Liv & Jack in a small coastal town in Western Australia. We were all living out of our vans & frothing on the natural beauty & kind community that this part of the coast has to offer. They started their trip around Australia exactly seven months from the day we did this shoot; pretty special if you ask me. Have a read to find out more about their journey & life on the road…

Tell us about the beginning, the setup & excitement for life on the road…

Big dreams of a road trip around Australia in a van started young for Jack. He spent three months doing the big loop with his family when he was seven and always dreamt of doing it again on his own terms. I was in my last semester of uni when Jack came home sitting behind the wheel of a 12 seated bus.

SUDDENLY THE TRIP BECAME REAL AND DREAMS STARTED TO UNFOLD. WE SPENT THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, PLANNING, DRAWING, THINKING, AND ENVISIONING HOW THE CONVERSION OF THE BUS WOULD GO.

Which end would the bed go, how does the fridge fit, how can we create a living space that allows us to play, eat, work and sleep?! Eventually we started getting our hands dirty. We were both working full time so any chance we had after work we would put the rest of the days energy into our new home.

The first big project was the roof. We painted the existing vinyl that was a dark grey to a white that completely changed the feel of the interior space. We then had to focus on the not so inspiring but very important aspects, such as sealing the floor, insulating the walls and prepping the van for the build. Over the next four months we built the bed, constructed his and hers clothing cupboards, kitchen storage with room for food prep, slide out stove, pull out drawers, everything pretty well had two uses to maximize the limited space we had inside the van.

Liv & Jack you’ve been on the road for 7 months today which is so special. From all the people you’ve met and the many places you’ve been, where do you think you could call home?

Jack and I left on this trip with the idea that we might find a new place to call home. So each place we roamed we tried to envision our lives there. Were there people like us, could we find a place by the sea for diving and surfing, did the town and community offer enough for us as young aspiring adults?

We discovered places where we could retire, where we could live with a family or where we would love to holiday. But no place had ticked all the boxes for us as adults now…

UNTIL WE MADE IT TO EXMOUTH. A SURFING, DIVING, ADVENTURE FILLED PARADISE WHERE THE BEAUTIFUL SOULS THAT FILLED THE COMMUNITY WERE SIMPLY THE ICING ON THE CAKE. IT’S WILD, ITS RUGGED AND YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE BEACH TO YOURSELF.

What’s been the biggest challenge of the trip?

No matter how much you love or need someone, time for yourself is so important. We have found it hard to find or create this time when we are bound by the hip 24/7 for seven months in a row. It is certainly not a normal living arrangement, and despite ‘living the dream’ day in day out, we have certainly had our highs and lows. But the most important thing at the end of the day was to fall asleep on the same page…

The three most important things you’ve learnt…

One of the most humbling parts of living on the road is the realization that we can live so simply and still carry out all the day-to-day activities. When people we met would invite us into their home to use their kitchen or sleep in a bed we found ourselves breaking things, getting flustered or not sleeping very well in the bed. We just love living in a small space. Learning to harness the sunshine through solar energy to give our little home power has been an amazing way to experience living off the grid. Problems would arise when the sun wouldn’t’ shine for a couple of days or we hadn’t been driving to power the second battery.

EACH AND EVERY DAY BROUGHT A NEW LEARNING CURVE. WE SURPRISED OURSELVES WITH HOW CAPABLE A LOADED UP VAN CAN BE. WE TEND TO FORGET WE ARE IN A 2WD SOMETIMES AND HAVE BITTEN OFF FAR MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW! BUT WE’D ALWAYS FIND A WAY OUT... IT JUST INVOLVED A LOT OF DIGGING! HAHAH

Jack as a freelance graphic designer, how do you find the freedom of working from anywhere in the world?

Before this trip I hadn’t been freelancing for too long, only on the side of working as a carpenter. But since being away, I’ve been able to focus on freelancing and work for clients from wherever I am in Aus. The freedom of it is a big plus, as none of the work needs face-to-face contact, it can all be organised over email, then I’ll go off and illustrate some concepts up and then shoot them over the end result. It’s a great way to stay creative and keep your mind active, because there is always a lot of down time on the road. The hardest thing about it is disciplining yourself when the sun is out and the waves are pumping but you need to meet a deadline!

Liv can you tell us about your Freediving business & love for the sea?

During my studies of Environmental Science, Marine Biology, I realized I was freediving on a completely new level. I had developed this level of knowledge and awareness of everything around me when I was submerged that gave my love for freediving so much more purpose. I began teaching Freediving just over a year ago now and with each dive I aim to share my passion to be environmentally conscious in all aspects of our lives. Over the warmer months in Victoria I run Freedive Courses and Training programs for all water lovers.

Go-to meal…

The infamous Migaloo Bowl (the van is called Migaloo) our own twist on a Japanese vegetable rice

bowl. It’s so easy to make, healthy and so delicious, once you’ve got the ingredients you can make it

over and over again haha. That’s generally what happens when you’re living on the road, you do a weekly shop and those ingredients tend to be used for the same meal each day; just one of the quirks of

van life that we happily lived with!

Featured on Vanlife Diaries

Sailing The Rowley Shoals

I find impeccable timing and subtle synchronicities to be a funny thing. The amount of times I’ve been in the right place at the right time is astounding & thought provoking to say the least. I don’t think its luck, but a mixture of manifestation & creating a reality you want to live, where all possibilities are open to the universe.

How does one always seem to fall into so many adventures & fortunate circumstances?

How does one simply find themselves on a Catamaran 260 kilometers offshore at one of the most untouched, pristine coral atolls in the world?

 The journey there took 30 hours. We spent our time reading and getting lures prepared for the expectation of catching some gnarly fish. We stopped midway on a reef-shelf & ended up reeling in a Rankin Cod, Long Nosed Emperor and a Coral trout.

Line in, fish out, easy as 1 2 3. Absolutely stoked. Ash is an ex-chef so the meals we made from the fresh seafood were mouthwatering. Ceviche, fish curry, beer battered cod & chips… life on the sea.

As we entered the atoll I peered atop from the mast, the water was calm & exquisite with different shades of blue and massive coral reefs with over 230 different coral species & 600 species of fish. A thin, elongated island splayed in the shallows further along, the center as rocky and desolate as Mars, but pure white & home to Red-tailed Tropicbirds & Ruddy Turnstones. This was to be our playground for the next week.

Each night I’ve been sleeping on a giant inflatable mattress that’s tied to the top of the Catamaran. The whole Indian ocean surrounds me, & above I’m looking at the trillions of galaxies, the deep milky way and a rare abundance of shooting stars. I seriously have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the sky, the soothing sounds of waves lapping against the hull and ropes swaying against the mast.

Bedwell Island may just look like a stretch of elongated sand- but it’s actually a whole beautiful little ecosystem with an abundance of life and natural patterns. I kayaked over to it one afternoon in a contentious 25 knot wind. The old blokes were wary I wasn’t going to be able to paddle back- and if you miss the island the next stop is legitimately Africa. I threw in my snorkel & mask, a few water bottles & a collectable bag- there’s many a treasure to be found on an island 300 kilometers out to sea. Plastic is still one of them unfortunately.

As I walked further around the island, I felt so completely immersed in its utter simplicity & divine beauty. Hundreds of crabs would scurry their way into the rocks as I walked up the long stretch of rock or old reef. And Eels! Some sort of Eel like creature with cream skin and tiny black dots slithered their way through the shallows, absolutely terrified by the sight of me. The first one I saw I accidentally disturbed it sleeping in the shade of a rock in the shallows, I didn’t know what to think just as much as he did. I now know that they were Morays & not some alien creature from the deep. As the sun lowered over the desert stretch of land, I took everything in around me and fully appreciated where I was. My cornucopia of goodies consisted of driftwood in the form of sea creatures, dried corals, all the bottle-tops and micro plastics I could find, a beautiful glass bottle, broken lightbulbs (yes, lightbulbs) and a massive Nautilus shell which made me stop straight in my tracks. I was blown away when I saw it, half buried in the sand, its striped brown and white trunk just peeking out. Nautiluses usually inhabit depths of several hundred metres and are only found in the Indo-Pacific waters. In other words, a rare find.

The paddle back into the wind and towards the Catamaran was an enjoyable mission. With white tip reef sharks meandering in the shallows and a slow setting sun, the push back to the Galley Cat was on. Arrived back to a nice lamb curry simmering away on the stove top with jasmine rice & crusty Turkish bread. Cheers Ash!

The waves on the outer reef of Clerke atoll have been pounding against the 400-meter-deep reef wall for the past four days. Currently out on the high seas trying to hold down the last hours sushi and seared chicken. We took a punt and headed towards the channel (the only way in and out). We secured everything down and packed bowls, cooking utensils, the dive gear, anything loose, inside the cabin. The dinghy is secured on the back with a pulley system that can hold one tonne. The caribenas have warped and torn their way open against the weight of the dinghy, which is getting absolutely pummeled by the rise and fall of the sea. Tumultuous to say the least.

Captain said Galley Cat is riding nicely- although after his daily dozen dose of greens and the thumps of great liquid mass knocking the boat from underneath, I’m in more unease than gallant enthusiasm.  Stew, Stew, Stew. I’d describe Stew as an experienced stinky old sea dog who’s constantly ‘pissed and stoned as a maggot’ but as harmless and affable as his Pitbull Honey. Ash is lying on the floor of the cabin next to the dog. He just vomited up about a litre of creamy liquid bile and this morning’s sushi. He’s at it again about 10 minutes later. I don’t think I was far behind.

The anticipation between each swell is mighty. You can hear the power and rumble of the motors, working hard against the seas pushing us back towards the treacherous shallow reef. The rumble of the propellers as they spin in mid-air. Every creak and rattle and shake you feel down to the core of your bones- & your aching peace of mind. If one of the hulls was to break or warp under the pressure, and water started to cascade through the inside of the cabin, there would be no one to save us. I’ve prepared a plastic bag full of water bottles and my rash vest handy if anything happens. I’ve even glad-locked my hard-drive and am willing to put that and my plastic wrapped laptop case in the freezer for preservation if we do go under (life of a photographer- when you value your gear more than life). Hey we won’t be going under, but 167 nautical miles out at sea it’s an imperious thought. Not that a rash vest is going to help much but it will protect my fair skin from the sun, and hopefully the water bottles will float when I haven’t yet been parched of thirst.

Oh wow. *%# I feel sick. I do have a life jacket by my side if you were thinking the obvious.

Anyway, back to that channel. The plan was to scope it out and see whether it was doable getting through. The tide was getting lower and lower and we had hit a tiny coral bombie on the way out- the absolute death of me. One thing’s for sure, the Neap tide period was well and truly over. The past few days we’ve seen the coral almost fully dry above the water, Brain coral and harder rock corals emerge first. We left at about 1.30pm through the channel around mid-tide- pretty much headed straight out through it with no prior thought or consultation. Ash was on the deck pointing directions to Stew in the skipper’s seat below, navigating us between the 10 metre channel. Galley Cat is seven metres wide which left us an arm and a foot either side of the rising reef. The swells that pushed towards us as we neared the exit way were frightening to say the least. I remember the sight of it pretty clearly from above the cabin. Big rolls of white water leaped and bound towards us as we rolled left to right in between the coral sheath. Although this wasn’t even the worst bit; the worst bit was battling against the mountain like, unforgiving swell as it hit the edge of the atoll and pushed back with an unthwarted stubbornness. We were in the midst of its game, 12 or so miles out and the high seas were still prevailing. God it gave me anxiety, but I seemed to be taking myself out of the situation and kind of standing back from it all- like the early Indigenous people who would leave their bodies to look for wild prey on the valleys below- It doesn’t ease the rise and fall of my stomach, however. Now it’s just holding on tight for the next 30 hours from here and praying that Galley Cat can ease her way through the swell…

We were halfway across the strait. It was just as tumultuous as it was seven hours ago. I woke up to catch a glimpse of the sunrise before passing back out for a few hours on the couch. It’s 8.30 am now. The fact that we made it through the night is hopeful, yet at a steady 1.6 knots we are still 107 miles either direction from land. Smack bang in the middle of the Indian Ocean and south of the Timor Sea. My only hope is that the hulls of the Galley Cat don’t concave against the massive thumping of the rise and fall of the sea. The number of dire scenarios that went through my head were quite funny actually. We shall chagrin with the conditions.

Last night the dive platform below the dinghy got crushed under its weight and broke off during the night. I’m surprised that thing is still on there to be honest. The metal structure holding up the dinghy with chains and multiple double knotted ropes has buckled with a quarter of the attachments from the roof disjointed. I can’t even describe the rest; I don’t want to put it into words just in case it comes true.

After a solid struggle and many hours of not being able to stand up straight, I’m overlooking the fine Cable Beach once again. I am so relieved to be back on land and free from the constraints of the boat. My body still feels like it’s in motion, but I shall soon adjust. Man, that was an interesting few days. We celebrated the trip and our safe arrival with a homemade cheesecake haha. Stew called me a few days later saying the hull had numerous compression dings and the left propeller completely shut down, leaving him and the yacht in shambles in the wild weather and needing to be rescued just off the mooring. We were extremely fortunate to come back the day we did.

I was definitely keen to get out of Broome then, start heading back down the coast in search of waves and some solid surf. After that who knows, but I like to have a general idea so I’m not aimlessly meandering. However, that is often what leads you to meeting the best people and sharing the greatest experiences- meandering & general conversation.

A Chat with Xavier Rudd // Storm Boy Album

For Xavier Rudd, writing music and living his life are one and the same, releasing his new album Storm Boy this Friday the 25th of May, it's expected to be his best yet. Between surfing, camping and getting back to his roots in the great outdoors, he's harmoniously creating and reverberating the things that are going on around him. Multi-instrumentalist (playing the didgeridoo, guitar, harmonica and aztec drum simultaneously) and respected environmentalist, he's not one to miss. I got to chat with him on the phone this week about Storm Boy.

Your new single Walk Away is powerfully uplifting and evokes some seriously heart-warming emotions. What were you doing when the lyrics came to you?

I first started writing the song when I was driving back across Australia, at that point I was in Western Queensland coming from the Kimberley and had a pretty amazing trip across the country. The idea of it comes from being able to walk away from stuff which we all have to do sometimes in our lives, letting go, and just holding our own and being true to ourselves.

Xavier you’re an incredibly spiritual, down to earth human being. What does spirituality mean to you and is it classed by a religion?

I always find that funny to hear because I don’t really see myself as spiritual. I guess my music comes from my love of the earth, I’ve grown up in the bush and I’m always camping. I’ve spent a lot of time on country, you know with my dog, just surfing, and I think about those things, the things that I love. I love the natural world and I care about the future of it. In a way I feel like my music guides me, it’s ahead of me to a degree.

The ocean for many of us is a way of life, and once you start surfing it’s ridiculously hard to stop. Where’s the best session you’ve ever had?

Aw best surf session, I’ve had too many haha! I recently had some incredible waves in Fiji, just perfect and absolutely pumping, but I’ve had that many good surfs I wouldn’t know where to begin. I have a few favourite surf spots, some of them I’ve sworn not to mention to other surfers but Winkipop and Bells Beach where I grew up- I haven’t surfed it for a long time but it’s home. I had so many memorable surfs there as a kid, you know before and after school, there’d just be these perfect waves…

Australia is such a vast, wild country and you’ve spent many moons under this hot desert sun. Is there still somewhere you’d like to connect to and learn from?

Yeah for sure, there’s tonnes of places I haven’t been in Australia, and everywhere I go has its own vibe and I love it, it’s such an intriguing place and the energy is always shifting. I’ve been fairly extensively through the Kimberley and feel like that’s probably the most powerful place I’ve been to and would love to get back. Tassie too, I’d like to see more of Tassie, it’s definitely a special place.

Your new album Storm Boy is set to be on our speakers at the end of this month. After six years since releasing Spirit Bird you must be pretty euphoric to get back out on the world tour!

Yeah I’m pretty excited, I mean I didn’t stop, I was working on a side project called the United Nations in between and have been pretty busy since. Storm Boy is a special record for me, there’s a lot of songs that are 10 years old in there, so I’m excited to get out and for people to hear it, hopefully they’ll dig it. Definitely keen to get out and play it around the world.

Life on the road is sweet but after a while it may take its toll. How do you find being constantly on the move?

It’s tiring no doubt, I heard from someone I can’t remember who it was, that you get paid to travel not to play music. It can get tiring but I’m really lucky, there’s a lot of great artists in this world, great musicians that are really good and don’t have the opportunity to be doing what I’m doing. I’ve had a great career and the opportunities that I’ve had are always super exciting, it would be be kind of disrespectful to be complaining about that aspect of my life as it’s pretty cool.

Your palpable affinity for the natural world and consciousness towards environmentalism and the rights of indigenous Australians is remarkably respected. What are you hoping to inspire with Storm Boy?

Yeah all of those things that you mentioned are close to my heart. I’m not someone to plan things too much, I’ll let them flow and it will come naturally. If the record is able to connect within those circles and help anyone have a conscious awakening or a need to help the environment in any way then that would be amazing- that would be huge. But as I’ve always done just see how it goes, see how it flows and pretty much I’m just stoked to be doing what I do. If that brings positive change in any way to the environment or on a humanitarian level, to people on their own road, then that’s a massive compliment to me.

Catch Xavier's Storm Boy Tour around Oz:

AUGUST 2–

UC REFECTORY, CANBERRA, ACT

AUGUST 3–

UNI HALL WOLLONGONG, NSW

AUGUST 4–

ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW

AUGUST 5–

CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE, NSW

AUGUST 10–

NIGHT QUARTER, GOLD COAST, QLD

AUGUST 11–

THE TIVOLI, BRISBANE, QLD

AUGUST 17–

ODEON THEATRE, HOBART, TAS

AUGUST 18–

THEBARTON THEATRE, ADELAIDE, SA

AUGUST 24–

THE FORUM, MELBOURNE, VIC

AUGUST 25–

COSTA HALL, GEELONG, VIC

Tickets on sale from

April 20 

This interview was originally featured on Summersite

North West Island Paradiso

The Great Barrier Reef is not just a place on a map; it’s a living and thriving ecosystem made up of billions of organisms and home to over 900 islands and coral cays. Just 75 kilometres off of Gladstone, Queensland, lies the Capricorn Bunker Group- the southernmost part of the Great Barrier Reef consisting of eight biologically diverse, and exceptionally beautiful islands that are just a stone’s throw away from the mainland. As we boarded the boat headed to North West Island, this tiny strip of land that we would be living and camping on for the next 7 days, with our two cars worth of gear, boards and leisurely essentials (apparently, we packed light) we had little idea of what we’d be in for.

Under the stars. Our North West odyssey.

Australia, you're so wild and free.

@danwilly and @indhi_ mid rapturous-delight in @willandbear

There’s just something about being in the open sea, with the wind on your face and a fine salty glaze glistening across your body. Watching the swell ease its way down the horizon, those gentle rolls that never cease to halt. Curtis Ferry Services have been dropping people out to North West, and the islands sprawled across the Capricorn Bunker region for the past 40 years. The trip out there is something in itself.

The first night we were there, our camp nestled amongst the Pisonia trees and only 20 steps from the soft sand, with those mesmerisingly translucent waters of the lagoon that shone the colour of a Moroccan gem. We were greeted with a warm cacophony from some of the islands local residents- Knoddy turn and Shearwater (Mutton) birds. Muttons are ever so graceful at sea, soaring freely across the high seas, but on land, well lets just say that’s another story. They nest and burrow under the Pisonia trees throughout the island, their rudimentary singing calls attempting to serenade us throughout the night- with little avail haha.

The walk out to the reef // just a step off from the high reef edge into an oasis of large pelagic fish and corals.

Dinner done right. @micklatt @_sophiaanne_ @danwilly

Back in 1904, the island was actually used as the base for a turtle soup factory- the boilers still remain, in their rusted form today. The history of some of The Great Barrier Reef’s islands are flagrantly barbaric as much as they are intriguing. The turtles were caught, killed, butchered, ‘souped’, tinned and exported- the whole operation completed from sea to soup. It wasn't until 1950 that sea turtles became protected animals (thank god- I can’t imagine turtle soup being very appetising anyhow).

The days on the island consisted of waking up with the sun, that soft glow that slowly emanates its way through the trees and onto the side where we were camped. Stepping onto the beach is like witnessing the sands of time- every 5 metres or so there’s a new animal track lingering from the low tide and up into the soft sand of the foredune. Turtles. These guys come here to lay their eggs, swimming in after dusk on the low tide and leaving early the next morning before the predators lurk in the high water of the lagoon. Michael, one of the guys on the trip, has been doing turtle conservation work for the past few years- we counted 420 tracks encompassing the island in just the first night alone. 420- that’s wild man!

Slacklining and hammock hangs part of the daily rituals of island life.

Watching the baby turtles make their way to the water. Pretty special moments in time.

@danwilly braving the sharkies for the shot. North West is the largest coral cay in the Capricorn-Bunker region, you can meander around it in under an hour.

Absolute ledgie @_sophiaanne_ enjoying the afternoon sun.

The abundance of marine and wildlife on the island is actually phenomenal. From the turtles laying their eggs on the beach to the Manta rays and small reef sharks swimming in the lagoon. One afternoon we were eating our stuffed spuds whilst watching the sun go down- the spuds filled with the previous night’s leftovers and marinated veggies (recommended easy and seriously delicious camp meal), enjoying the tranquillity of our surroundings and a cold bev, when all of a sudden about ninety loggerhead turtle hatchlings erupted from the dune behind us and came scurrying down between our toes in dire desperation to reach the waters edge. This was not a rare occurrence. In fact, after seven days, we had possibly become turtled out.

Australia seriously has so much to offer, it’s a country that’s beautifully wild and free. We yearn to visit those places overseas and tropical islands far out of our reach, but in reality, the best destinations and experiences are right here in our own backyard. North West Island, you were a real gem.

This article was featured on Summersite

Perth's Wooly Mammoth Taking Flight // New EP Music Video

Perth locals Wooly Mammoth are flying high into the new year with the release of their new EP Fell, Took Flight. The four piece indie-rock band are making waves in the WA music scene with their soothing vocals and enthralling on stage atmosphere. With Jon Stapleton the man behind the vocals and keys, Christian Zappia on guitar, Andrew Eyres on bass and Josh Wright on drums, their music is not something you wanna  miss. In 2017 they released two insanely soulful tunes Edge and Catcher in the Rye which have seen them playing regularly at venues such as Mojos Bar Freo and The Rosemount Hotel.

“Can’t Stand The Soul came together – start to finish – in a day. It represented a new exciting direction for our sound and we think it’s perfect for a single and an EP opener. The lyrics of the song are a plea to not overthink things too much and let things run their natural course. They were inspired by the ups and downs that come with being a creative person – sometimes you feel like you’re coming up with your best ideas and sometimes you just feel dry. This song is a reminder to trust yourself and your creative soul, because ‘it’s all that you’ve got’.”

Featured on Savage Thrills

15 Years of The Beautiful Girls- Nothing but Bliss

Fifteen years after releasing their first EP Morning Sun, The Beautiful Girls have been stripping it back to their roots, touring all around Australia playing songs from their first two albums such as Learn Yourself and On a Clear Day. These were groundbreaking back in 2003 but have increasingly become more loved overtime, and more iconic to the Australian roots/reggae scene than ever before.

Playing at The Hotel Northern, Byron Bay, the vibes couldn’t be any more warmly enthusiastic. With Paul Bromley on the bass, Paul Derricot on the drums, and the man behind it all Matt McHugh serenading the people of Byron with his soothing melodies and classic guitar picks, it was a performance not easily forgotten.

This particular venue holds a special place in The Beautiful Girls hearts – 15 years ago they were playing at this exact venue. It’s pretty damn incredible for musicians and bands to survive, let alone thrive, over so many years in the music industry. I can tell you the energy surrounding the room was insanely powerful- everyone moving to the rhythm and singing tirelessly to the lyrics that they have admired for so long, I’m sure it would have been just the same so many years before. The Beautiful Girls have etched a spot in the Australian roots/reggae scene, and no doubt, into our hearts.

Live Review created for Savage Thrills

Jungle Love Festival // Sunshine Coast

Jungle Love Festival- a place where diversity, individuality and androgynous attire is not only encouraged, but celebrated in style. Located 2 hours North of Brisbane in Imbil, Queensland, the festival is set right on Yabba Creek- perfect for swimming and inflatable flamingoes.

With no shortage of workshops and activities such as afro fusion dance, dunkata body beats (using your body as an instrument to create dynamic rhythms & sounds yeah), hula hoop making, symbiotic yoga, and my personal fave- water aerobics with Meg. Jungle Love Festival gave you the opportunity to learn and create, to your heart’s content.

The mornings generally consisted of a throng of dilapidated dreadfuls meandering their way down to the creek to either awash the previous nights’ sins, soak the soul, or just lounge back with an Emu Export in a blow-up inflatable. Anything goes.

The Jungle Boogie stage, with its simple scaffolding setup, smothered in palms, and 50-metre vicinity from the creek was an absolute hit. The constant flow of bubbles being pumped out into the space added to the good vibes. You’d be surprised by the length of time a single bubble can entertain a frazzled mind, they certainly added to the atmosphere, that’s for sure.

Some of the artists playing included Australia’s critically acclaimed Harts, Kallidad, Koi Child, Karl S Williams and Brisbane locals such as Hemingway, Nice Biscuit and Pocket Love. A fruitful mix of creatives with an overarching cosmic vibe. Jungle Love thanks for the groovy times!

NY & NJ Surf Chronicles // Ice Cream Headaches

If there were ever to be a book that encapsulates the raw essence of people’s stories and their sanctification to the surf culture, this would be it. Ice Cream Headaches is a celebration of the diversity, creativity and humour of East Coast Surfing. It features forty different stories from surfers, shapers, photographers, filmmakers and writers who represent modern surf culture in New York and New Jersey, and what it means to live a life obsessed with the sea.

 New York based writer Ed Thompson, and photographer Julien Roubinet, set out to capture and document this over a period of four years. Chasing swells and arranging interviews, Ice Cream Headaches sheds the light on like-minded souls who are so fervently drawn to the big blue. An abundance of cheap tacos and a few extra miles on the Jeep a were a given along the way.

You guys both moved to New York six or so years ago now, how did you meet each other? 

J: We met through a mutual friend, surfing. I remember our first conversation was about visas. A common theme for expats.

E: Yes, we met surfing Rockaway beach. There is a little story about it in the Preface of our book. We got lucky and found a sandbar with a wave that nobody else was surfing, so we surfed there a few times and hung out.

What was the main reason behind creating this project? And at what point did you decide to go all out and hit the road?

J: Ed came up with the idea after a session, while eating the almost religious post-surf bagel (light on the cream cheese, avo+bacon). 

We threw a few ideas around and once we had something that looked like a plan, we went for it. 

Michael Halsband was the first one we interviewed and photographed and that set the tone. I felt like we had committed to the project by spending some of Halsband’s time. The stories, names and excitement that came out of this first interview also indicated that we were on a fascinating track.

E: I think we both felt an urge to go deeper into what surfing means in this part of the world. It’s a really unique scene because there is so much else going on and surfing can be quite marginal. Yet for many people, especially further from New York City, it’s an essential part of their daily lives. There are also some really unique characters who make up the community here, and maybe a bit less ego, hype and sponsorship from the big brands than you find elsewhere, so it’s a very authentic community.

Did you look for anyone in particular to interview, or just wanted to stumble across different characters out in the surf?

J: We had a couple of names in mind from the start. They were obvious in the sense that they are known surfers, writer or filmmakers. Then, each person we interviewed would point out a few names. If these names came up several times and the research would yield some stories then we would go after them (regardless of the status).

E: We wanted to invest the time and energy to meet people personally. We could have made a book about surf culture here with much less effort by emailing people interview questions and using other people’s photography and writing for book content. But we didn’t want to ask people to submit their work to our cause without any hope of payment. We also wanted to actually meet people, see new places, surf new breaks, learn about the scene and get ourselves into some real situations. We approached everyone, famous or not, with respect and preparation because we truly appreciate how difficult it is to be a surfer here and make the most of every swell – it takes real passion and commitment and we wanted to reflect that in our own approach.

Out of the forty incredibly diverse people you met, was there one story/ person that resonated with you guys on a larger scale?

J: That’s a tough one! I can say with confidence that all have a pretty cool story. For me there is always a little something that I find amazing in each person we’ve met. Charles Mencel, for example, perpetuates the tradition of lifeguarding, surfing, shaping boards locally while including trips to Hawaii in search for heavy waves. Sam Shainberg has an hilarious sense of humor that often fazes people. Tom Petriken surfs at a pro level but stays relatively low key and works hard to get his Psychology degree. William Finnegan has surfed all over the world for most of his life, and yet, he checked the forecast a couple of time during our interview!

E: There were a lot of very special experiences meeting the different folks we interviewed and I feel incredibly lucky to have met every single one of them. Two of my favorite ones were Linda Davoli and Russell Drumm. Sadly, Russell passed away before we finished the book, but his daughter is really happy that we captured some photos of him and some of his stories. Both Russell and Linda enjoyed absolute dedication to surfing in their lives. Both had simply wonderful, funny and remarkable stories to share about their experiences – they came to surfing at really interesting times in American history.

The four years spent on the project consisted of multiple road-trips and short sprints up and down the east coast- a prolific journey that  would have ensued some incredible experiences. What was the average time you spent with each person understanding and documenting their story?

J: We typically spent 3 hours with each person. We had the opportunity to meet again, surf and become good friends with a good amount of them.

E: Both of us worked on other projects while working on Ice Cream Headaches, but the prolonged time of making the book has helped us have a sense of what was important to include and what we could afford to leave out. There were just these moments that became important to us over the grand arc of several years of work. Some people were pretty hard to track down, and there were a couple of very long, not very fruitful journeys to meet people who were more interested in going surfing than being interviewed, but that’s all in the game!

You’re currently crowdfunding on Indiegogo for the release of the book. What have been your main challenges in getting this to the print table?

J: We were discussing this right before we launched. The overall process has been fairly smooth but nevertheless challenging, chasing people, being turned down, missing swells, finding a publisher, making $0… I was sharing my concerns about pursuing crowdfunding because we weren’t sure if we had the velocity or the following for it to be successful. And Ed replied “true but so far things have always worked out”. 

E: It was tough finding a publisher. Someone told us to get an agent before trying to find a publisher, so we found an agent but at about the same time some of our outreach to publishers started to get traction and we ended up going it alone. We received two offers to publish the book and Damiani’s offer gave us a bit more flexibility and we felt it would result in a better quality object in the end. We’re stoked we decided to work with them.

Also, bless him, our designer Reynald has just handed over version #22 of the book design. That is a man with serious vision and stamina. Arriving at the right design which we all felt happy about has been a pretty involved process and Reynald has been incredibly committed to realizing our vision.

How can we help?

J: Sign us a blank check! I think spreading the word is the best help we can ask for! We love the community here and I believe a lot of people outside of New York and New Jersey would be inspired by these stories!

E: Errr… tell everyone you know, whether you like them or not, that the book is going to be awesome! It’s going to be a really beautiful object and worth having a copy of to pass on to your children. Especially if you want them to dig surfing. You’ll find blood, sweat and some of Julien’s tears between the pages.

Ed and Julian have some pretty snazzy rewards goin’ round for their campaign. Sweet Ice Cream Headache Tees with a groovy little logo, fresh photo prints, and of course, the book. It’s all up on their Indiegogo campaign. Spread the love to help them get these stories out there!

For stories and pieces from the journal, check out their website.
Instagram // icecream.headaches

Originally created for Savage Thrills

Rad Livin' West Coast Tour

How often is it that you surround yourself with different people that inspire, challenge and motivate you to simply chase your dreams and follow your passions? It may be a little cliché, but life is what you make of it, and if you're not waking up every day with a burning passion or flowing contentment, start changing things up. There is more opportunity out there than you know, and this life you want to live, is more attainable than you think it is, and how society says it should be.

Jonny @dustybootsmusic and Liv @donttellsummer catching up on old times.

@zacwhiteee & @donttellsummer rock hoppin the rugged landscape of the South West.

Vanlife. And some very good humans.

This past week we spent time with a collective of extremely talented, kind-hearted souls creating content, touring the coast and getting to know a little more about guest speakers, long haired yahoos, and genuinely good people @theneverlandboys.co for @donttellsummers festival Rad Livin, which will be held in Sydney on March 17th. The purpose of the Rad Livin festival is to inspire you to do what you love now, rather than waiting for some point in the future.  It’s a declaration to live an authentic, meaningful life. The other speakers making an appearance include Cam Greenwood (founder of Monsta Surf), Will & Bear founders, Steph Gabriel, Stefan Haworth and Elise and Dominic, founders of Down the Rabbit Hole Wines- they are currently travelling Aus in their 72 Westfalia Kombi. Yeahhhhh, not a bad line-up if you ask me. Pretty grateful to say some of these speakers are my good mates, and the rest a massive inspiration.

Taking shelter from the rain inside Auri. @dustybootsmusic @ashkatch @adamharpaz @donttellsummer

The crew goes South.

A collaboration with Soul Camping ensured two very dandy nights of absolute lux. @tygerlyons @zacwhiteee @donttellsummer @ashkatch

With a solid crew of good people, we meandered south  down to Yallingup, Margaret River and Bunbury following the soulful, coastal folk tunes and groovy funk of Dusty Boots music and Adam Harpaz for their West Coast tour. Based in Byron Bay, Jonny (Dusty Boots) lives the simple life in his rolling home and is the co-founder behind the massive community Van Life Diaries. For the West Coast tour, a friend offered up her home for the boys to travel in whilst on the road- a 19 foot Mercedes sprinter van, a seriously dreamy conversion at that.

The simple things.

Creating content for @donttellsummer ‘s Rad Livin Festival in March 2018.

Soulful tunes and mellow hues.

We scored a few waves, watched the sinking sun atop the cliffs, glamped in the bush with Soul Camping's bohemian styled bell tents, talked about dreams, goals, aspirations, and the most random shit, all over the melodious strum of the guitar. In the end it’s the people you meet, the stories you share, and the little things that really make your world go round. These past weeks encompassed all three, that’s fo sure.

@donttellsummer and @ashkatch are originally from America. We celebrated thanksgiving in style- pumpkin pie, turkey and all, with a bit of an Aussie twang.

Don't mind if we do.

Life of an instagrammer. @zacwhiteee & @tygerlyons are some of the most genuine people you will meet.

@adamharpaz and his insanely soulful tunes. This guy is going places.

Catching up with Zac White // THE NEVERLAND BOYS

The Neverland Boys -from groms documenting their youth in one of the most beautiful places in Australia, to serious videographers and bloggers travelling the world and capturing the raw essence of a life that is the epitome of living. I caught up with Zac whilst back in Perth and had the absolute pleasure of hearing a little bit about his story, travels from the past year and what’s to come for the group of three. Growing up is definitely not on their agenda… and it never will be.

Don’t know who these guys are? Watch The Neverland Boys latest project ‘Citizens of Nowhere’- it will blow your cotton socks off.

The Neverland boys originally started up in Rottnest Island, the perfect place to just roam free and explore hidden gems. How did you meet the rest of the boys and get together?

So in the group it’s Elliott, Jaxon and myself…I first met Elliott playing cricket when I was thirteen. We had so much in common right from the get go and spent more summers than I know playing cricket together, which has created this super special friendship we have now. Elliott was always raving on about this dude he was best friends in school with and so it was only a matter of time before I met this guy, Jaxon. Since then we’ve all been like peas and carrots and I don’t remember a time or day where we haven’t been together doing something super fun. Then I guess one summer, we thought there actually might be something better to do on a hot sunny Saturday other than cricket haha! So we thought we’d go to Rotto and find a job there and that we did! We haven’t looked back since, or even played a game of cricket in fact. I mean we lived for cricket everyday, like loved it, but Rotto just gave us something else, a new passion, which was photography and filming and it was hard to not document this life, I mean Rotto is insane…

Photo: @theneverlandboys.co

Since the humble beginnings of Rotto you guys have been all over the world to places such as Greece, Croatia, California and different islands throughout Indonesia. In documenting this rad lifestyle, what is the main message you want to portray and get across to people following your journey?

We’ve been more than lucky to see some really insane places and I honestly couldn’t be more thankful for that. I guess it’s this opportunity that has inspired us to document life and show others that there’s a whole world out there waiting to be explored. But I guess one message we like to try to portray through doing what we do is to give people motivation to not be afraid to just go out and do what they love. Whether thats going out and travelling, starting up an idea you’ve had for a while, working in a job you actually like or just something as simple as little as finding time in your day or week to do something that makes you happy.

Photo: @theneverlandboys.co

Zac what does being creative mean to you?

I think being a creative gives me the chance to be me and express who I am in a creative sense. For me, I’ve always been pretty shy in expressing myself and who I am, so I’m really grateful that I’ve found a passion with photography and videography, which has helped me with this. But in saying that, being a creative means you don’t have to follow the crowd, you can think outside the box and be unique, which is what I like most.

Photo: @theneverlandboys.co

Describe a single moment from one of your travels this year (hard to choose, I know) something that resonated with you on a larger scale.

This whole year has been a standout for sure! I’ve visited places I’ve only ever dreamed of but also come across many challenges along the way, which has brought us three boys together closer than ever. In amongst this I’d say losing all our accounts to everything we’ve been working on has for sure been one of those challenges, a good and bad thing. It helped us grow, learn, and opened our eyes up to all the amazing people we’ve met travelling along the way- that helped us get back on our feet, which was incredible to see. There’s just so many like minded people out there that we’ve met, shared a lot with and learnt a lot from, and that’s something that has really resonated with me and the boys quite a lot this year.

Photo: @theneverlandboys.co

The content and video stories you guys create is seriously insane. I was awashed with pure joy after watching the first episode of Citizens of Nowhere. How do you work as a team to pull it all together?

Us boys are pretty open on how we create content. We all take photos and make videos, with some of us being more creative at one thing than another, but just having three brains to help put something together really makes the whole process a lot easier and more creative. But generally if we usually have an idea we want to do we just do it because if we don’t take that one picture or film that one video, we’ll just never know. Otherwise when it comes to the commercial side of things we really put all the ideas on the table and sort out what will work best. Then I guess if we have more than a few jobs to do we’re able to split them up, which makes it quite efficient for us.

Photo: @theneverlandboys.co

Sometimes there’s just no place sweeter than home. Where’s your favourite place to hang out and get back to your roots?

Its full chill mode when I’m home ahah! I love cruising in Freo, grabbing a coffee from a couple of my fave places then just surfing at my local or treating myself to a few days here and there at Rotto when I can! Home is great!

Upcoming Perth band/ artist you’re diggin?

I’m actually really diggin Great Gable! They’re a few legends just rocking out to some really cool and groovy stuff. I used to play cricket with the lead singer and I feel obliged to say they sound sick but I generally actually listen to them mostly everyday, they’re rad!

Photo: @theneverlandboys.co

The boys are holding their film premiere/photo exhibition from recent travels at Little Wing Corner Gallery in Perth early November.

This interview was featured on Savage Thrills

Finding Comfort in Creativity & Design // Fremantle Art Walk 2017

Have you ever wondered what spurs a creative? The process and inspiration behind their work? A glimpse inside their humble abode and work studio is a pretty good place to start.

Open plan living space with overhead storage- sneaky surfboard up top perfect for grab and go’s when the waves are good.

The Fremantle Artwalk, first spontaneously held by a small group of established Fremantle artists in 2014, is now into its third year, becoming a renowned biennial event. The walk offers the public an insight into the homes and studios of professional WA artists living locally in Fremantle and White Gum Valley. The whole creative process is generally one done in a solitary, unbeknown manner, and it is truly fascinating to see where the magic happens.

It’s always interesting to see what artists choose to collect and display in their home- an eclectic mix of bits and bobs that when composed correctly look absolutely awesome

Art & music. Nuff said

The Freo Art Walk was held this late May and featured seven different artists with special guests. The official event website aforementioned the walk should take approximately an hour or so. However, if you really want to delve into the thoughts and creative process, gawk over the beautifully designed interiors and even have a good old coffee and a chat with the artist themselves, prepare for a tad longer- I struggled to pull it off in three! A weekend that is definitely worth saving the date for.

Interior envy.

The seven artists included Annette Seeman and John Teschendorff (drawing, print & photo), Eveline Kotai (paint, scissor, stitch), Ian de Souza (drawing & paint), Trevor Richards (paint & sculpture), Penny Bovell (paint & prints), Jo Darbyshire (paint) and Michael Knight (paint).

Afternoon light in the loungeroom

Textures

It is evident to see how the use of space, colour, light and simple design can create such an inspiring environment for creativity and essentially productivity. Good design is known to affect your general wellbeing and happiness; from the complementary colour palette of walls to the smooth edges of furniture. When everything comes together it influences how we feel and perform, both consciously and subconsciously. So it’s no surprise that these home studios are immaculate in their aesthetic appeasement and modernist design.

Ian De Souza’s house - an open living space that intertwines the outdoors with the inside, lush green palms and a pop of colour on the walls made for a harmonious entryway. The bathroom was complete with glazed concrete floors and a rustic use of furniture; the bathtub lying against a jutting limestone rock wall. A home that is enviable, to say the least.

Light, space and personal objects all contribute to finding your creative flow.

The sun shall pull the strings- Nature doing all the work.

Each artist uses their space in a different way, whether it’s prioritising the position of the record player and the plethora of vinyl collections, or surrounding themselves with nature’s beauty; everything comes together to evoke comfort and inspire the creative process.

The Art Walk Fremantle, a must do event for any creative in Perth.

This article was featured on Summersite

Getting in the Groove // Anais Pierquet

Kind heart, warm soul, and an irrevocable groove. Anais Pierquet is an absolute killer on the longboard; her sure-footed finesse and easy rhythm on the water is not one to be missed as she dances along the waves of Batu Balong beach. Based in the creative hub of Canggu Bali, Anna has committed herself to a life of leisure and endless adventures through her brand Blank Pages, and general love of life.

There's no doubt you're one of the grooviest lady sliders out at Old Man's break. What are your first memories of longboarding, and what drew you to the surf culture?
Haha you're funny! Damn I don’t really remember when I started long boarding! When I first started to surf I learnt on a short board, but after a while I guess I got bored at some point aha. I needed a more chilled out, mellow and funky surf sesh, a way to express myself. When I was a kid my dad was always windsurfing or wake boarding, he was addicted to water sports and I guess it’s been passed down to me too! Since so young I was dreaming of Hawaiian flowers, ocean breaks and surf even when I had no concept of what it actually was. 

You moved to Bali almost a year and a half ago now. Why did you decide to base yourself in Canggu?
Yes! Two years now actually. I came to Bali with my best friend & started surfing and just immersing myself in the laid back lifestyle- after that I never wanted to leave haha! Canggu has a good vibe even if now that it’s getting more and more crowded. Waves are fun most of the time. Really it’s just the first stop on a life of adventure; I hope that the next will be Hawaii!

Your brand Blank Pages, and its admirable ethos, is the epitome of the way you live your life. What inspired you to create such beautiful handmade products?
I guess it all comes from travelling! We all need to see the world and to see the world you need a bag, at least a small one to put your best camera in. I am also massively inspired by nature- mainly the gorgeous colours of flowers and plants, and colours of the sky. Nature is the most creative thing on earth- epically beautiful!

How would you compare the break back home in France to Canggu?
Well believe it or not I’ve actually never long boarded in France, only hopped on the short board! It’s a shame, but I will definitely be back to change this soon! I heard there’s a great left in South West of France that I would love to sink my teeth into!

What does being creative mean to you? And how does surfing revolve around this?
Being creative for me is self-expression, it’s the only way out. Plus creativity is not limited to one form- you can do anything that you want, everyone has their own way of expressing their creativity. Like you throw yourself into photography, I paint or write poems. For me this is how I can heal all pain, express all joy, and open my heart to let go of it all!

Favourite tattoo of yours, and the artist behind it?
Ooo that’s a tough one. I have so many! I have to say that my back piece made by one of my best friends Clea is the one that I cherish the most. A beautiful bunch of flowers to celebrate life!

This interview is also featured on Herewith Magazine

Life in Canggu // Crille Rask

Crille Rask, more commonly known as Raskal; is a photographer, creative director and Rhythm ambassador. A man with a serious sense of style and a warm relaxed nature.  You can find him thriving in the creative hub and that is Canggu, Bali.

// Why do you choose to base yourself in Canggu, and why do you think so many creatives are drawn to this place?

Hmm… To be honest I’m not sure. I wasn’t planning to move to Bali at the time but I kinda got sucked into the flow of things and stayed. I didn’t really have a choice at the time- it just sort of took care of itself. Bali, and Canggu itself can be an amazing place, but it also swallows up a lot of creatives on a daily basis. It’s so easy to get lost in distraction and flakiness; there’s just something in the air. Also really hard to focus and be efficient, but if you manage to its one of the most amazing places to be based as the whole world swings by all the time with new opportunity.

 // How does this lifestyle shape,  and inspire your creative process?

Hehe… to be honest I think I was a lot more productive and creative when I was living in Sweden. There’s nothing like a dark Swedish winter that sort of forces you to do stuff or you lose your mind from lack of sunlight and sleep. But to stick to the Bali side of things, I really believe it’s the laid back happy go lucky culture that the Balinese Hindus have that is so happy and free. You can always joke, smile and sing- no matter what.  No one tells you that you can’t do something, they just do it without any presumption of failure; they learn that it’s that simple. Mental barriers could take the planet down and it obviously is, but I will stay away from politics. So this whole ‘attitude’ is in the air and if you are open to it, then Bali provides you with a lot of opportunity, especially time.

// The Rhythm family has become a major part of your life; how did you meet Neal and get involved?

Yeah I’ve been involved with the Rhythm family now for almost 8 years. Haha gosh time flies. I started off working with a bit of marketing, to then looking after the whole European continent. Loved the job but everything has its time. After five years I was sort of ready to do something new- the office part was never my strength. Rhythm then offered me to stay in the family as an ambassador and keep creating content and spread the love. Very happy and thankful for their support and love- it’s become a big happy chunk of what my life looks like today.  Ahh.. Neal! He’s the best! There are few men on this planet that I respect and like as much as him. He’s a bit like a human life rocket scientist; he has a perfect, beautiful family, surfs like a god, shapes like a demon, and last but not least he has the biggest heart. Haha what a legend.  I think I met Neal the first time I was in Portugal at a sales meeting; we shared way too many drinks, laughs and good wobbles.

// In the years that you've lived here as an expat, how has Canggu changed with the commercialisation and capitalism surrounding Bali?

Canggu has definitely fallen into the hands of tourism but at the speed of light. Sadly, like every other epic place on this planet, humanity has its way of never knowing when it’s enough. First time I came to surf in Canggu about ten years ago there was nothing but pure village beauty, and I would never have thought it would become what it is today. But yeah, it’s bound to happen. It’s an amazing place and you’ve just got to appreciate it for what it is today, not sit and complain of what it has become, otherwise you’ll become bitter and there’s no point in that. I love the place. Let’s just hope they don’t take it that little step too far into the concrete jungle.

// Snow, surf or skate?

The three S’s.  As always the first love was the skate boarding. You can do it everywhere; it’s cheaper and more accessible to anyone no matter what economical background. Then naturally I started snowboarding as that’s what you did in the town I come from. However as I reached my twenties surfing stole me away from everything that I knew. I started travelling to catch waves and pretty much dropped everything I was doing. Nowadays I’m a full Sunday surfer. I try and surf everyday but work and business has found me, even in Bali haha…but yeah surfing is a funny one. Way too many people loose themselves in it I think; sometimes it’s good, and sometimes maybe not for the better. It’s a bit devilish, like a drug. You need to make sure you keep it balanced. A trip to somewhere without your piece of foam is healthy and fun too- this used to be a note to self haha. Nowadays I think I know better, maybe...

 // The day in the life of a creative is always different- thank the lord. What's your one daily routine?

My one and only true love... Coffee! There’s not much that can keep me from going to my favourite cafe to have a latte and a random chat before I start my day. My favourite cafe in Bali being Canteen- it was one of the first in Canggu and it’s completely free of pretentiousness,  and not to hectic with tourists…most of the time haha.

 // Artist to look out for on your Rhythm-radio Sounds playlist?

My last playlist on the radio sounds is an Asian psychedelic trip. But if I have to mention a favourite on the playlist it’s Mr. Bungle: an old side project from Mike Patton from Faith No More.

This interview has been featured on Rhythm

Sunny Smile & Easy Style // Ayok Canggu

I Gede Eka Wira Dharma, more commonly (and conveniently) known as Ayok, is one of Canggu’s finest longboarders. His easy, confident style and sure-footed finesse is absolutely mesmerizing to watch as he dances along the waves of Batu Balong Beach. Growing up in the small village of Canggu, he’s seen the rise of Indonesian surf culture and has become part of a generation where fishing is no longer his family’s main source of income. This is an insight into his story.

// Surfing has given you so much. How has this sport and the Deus family contributed to shaping your life today?

Surfing for me is something that comes from my soul. It’s an everyday ritual that I will continue for the rest of my life. I don’t care what people think about this sport or myself in general; surfing is purely rhythm and passion. DEUS- those guys are pretty cool. They are my second family. They are more than just a brand; the feeling that I get from meeting these good people is insane. It’s always been about who’s been there for me and how people treat me along the way- I cannot express the amount of love I have for those guys!

// Back when you were a kid growing up in your home town of Canggu, it was just a small fishing village with one big, beautiful, empty lineup. How has surfing and the tourism industry changed that?

Canggu was one of the best spots a while ago, and I really miss that. I guess there wasn’t more than six people in the water at a time; you can imagine how wonderful that would be! It’s been messed around after people started talking about Canggu and how good it is. So many people in the water, all the waves caught- but not necessarily ridden, no rules, and kooks everywhere. I mean it’s awesome for local business; board rental, restaurants and small warungs on the beach gather a lot of customers. However the people who come should be curious in knowing who and how they are; get to know the local people. If you do something kind you will receive something good back.

// Can you tell me about the origins of the lobster nets on the longboards?

Before we used to take people surfing, we’d catch lobsters to pay for our school costs, and also for our arak (an alcoholic drink like rum made from rice and molasses) Lobster is delicious. It was a gold before. When we go surfing we put the net out during sunset and pick it up the next morning with big hopes of a catch. Looking back, I miss those moments now.

// With the commercialisation and capitalism of Bali, what do you think is the best way to prevent Canggu from becoming like Seminyak or Kuta? Is there a way?

Canggu is still the small and lovely place that I know. It’s the place that I was born and have grown up in; my playground filled with beautiful memories. It would be a real shame if capitalism and money makers waste it away like Kuta and other places in Bali. People come here for the small, chill town that it is. We need to filter out what is coming in, and protect it from major development projects and growth like that. It’s much better to promote small local businesses than hotel sky rises. Everyone needs to make money, but they shouldn’t go crazy and get greedy over it. I wish I can call Canggu my home forever- with no risk behind it.

// Surf teaching is a pretty rewarding job, let alone good fun. What’s a day in the life of Ayok?

It’s a dream job haha. An amazing lifestyle, hobby and so many girls… Hahaha no no don’t worry my girlfriend is here with me. I normally do about 2-3 two hour sessions of teaching each day, otherwise I’m surfing myself or back working at my homestay. I enjoy it at the moment. Just doing my best!

// One dream wave that you wish to travel to?

Noosa.

This interview is also featured on the Deus Ex Machina blog.