♥ N.A.S.A.

Sam and & DJ Zegon of N.A.S.A. dropped in yesterday for a chat.

So N.A.S.A's "Spirit of Apollo" five years in the making. The follow up is a remix album and it shouldn't take as long for the next one. Aussie they would consider for the next record Andrew Stockdale, The Presets and Architecture In Helsinki

Sam's production credits - insane! On the Aussie front he's been working with Ben Lee on their much anticipated Mix Tape. Early days on when and how they're putting it out.

Meanwhile enjoy this. Baby Baby!

SPOTIFY ON YOUR MOBILE

This is soooo DOPE!

Martin is a genius.

THE ANGELIC VOICES OF KIDS...

I found this while researching my new favorite band, Passion Pit. 

They enlisted the help of some young kids for vocals on their tracks and while at it I found this Passion Pit's blog. A cover of Viva La Vida. Soooooo goood.

I LUV ME ONE HIT WONDERS!

"Now that we found love what are we going to do with it?" Yes, the all important question posed by Heavy D. & The Boyz. And many other interesting song related topics from famous and not so famous one hit wonders. 

My work is bringing out a One Hit Wonders CD compilation this April. I looooooved the list of songs. So I thought I would down memory lane with you. Some are on the compilation, others are personal picks. Let's take it back to the 90s, baggy clothes, flat top haircuts, ugly washed denim, sneakers with heavy soles, daggy dance moves happy pants and all. 

Starting with Shanice - I Love Your Smile. Now, I may be taking a punt here but is Shanice's song channeling Janet Jackson in some, or many ways? 

Big Mountain - Baby I Love Your Way. A Classic.

Shame on you if you got busy to this song... Silk - Freak Me

Or this song, Az Yet - Last Night, key line "I almost cried cause it was so beautiful", Oh no!

And finally, and this especially goes out to my man all the way in Kiwi land, P-Money. Yep Yep, Snow - Informer

DID YOU KNOW...?

VANILLA ICE & COOLIO FACT!

Article written by Kali Holloway

In the category of Scientific Studies That Prove Things We Already Knew: Two University of Kansas researchers have discovered that songs can call up vivid memories and emotions from long ago periods in our lives. The surprising outcome of the study? For a surprising number of us, those memories are tied to Vanilla Ice and Coolio. 

The study involved 124 subjects between the ages of 18 and 20 who were asked to create lists of songs from various periods in their lives. Maybe because of the closeness in age of those questioned (although we’re just guessing. We haven’t done any studies of our own) respondents reported strong memories and feelings associated with many of the same songs: Vanilla Ice’s Ice, Ice Baby triggered memories in 26% of subjects; 36% got all nostalgic about Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise. What’s more, respondents didn’t actually have to hear the music – just thinking about the songs was enough to stir up old memories and feelings. 

Results from the study were published in the Psychology of Music.

And if you don't know, now you know... Taken from www.vanillaice.com

ART OR TRANSGRESSION? GRAFFITI IN MELBOURNE

I'm late on this, I know. I finally saw Rash, the graffiti documentary I taped on IQ yonks ago. One of the most detailed exploration on graffiti in Melbourne I've ever seen. 

Melbourne is an amazing place, a completely different take on the interesting culture of the city.

AUSTRALIAN YOUTH FORUM

Last Friday I was lucky enough to be picked to MC at the Australian Youth Forum.  

I haven't done something like this on a national level, the last time I participated in relaying ideas for Government was Youth Parliament in Victoria in my final years of high school.  

This was incredible! We were hooked up via satellite to 1000 people across the country and at the end of the forum I got to speak to a representative in each city across Australia about what ideas came up in the forum to the topics of Participating in Democracy and Violence and Safety.  

I think one of the most interesting things that came up consistently was lowering the voting age in Australia. I don't even think I thought it should be a right of mine to vote while in my high school years. Yet, a completely legitimate point. I would strongly consider it too.  

A rep in the Northern Territory brought out the point of racism still being a prevalent issue, while in Sydney they spoke of a social acceptance of all cultures. Some very interesting speeches were made from MInister Kate Ellis, Young Australian of the Year, Jonty Bush spoke and a very moving speech was made by Jono Chase addressing violence and public safety. Jonty made a very good point of making violence become a social faux pas similar to changing attitudes to smoking.  

All very interesting and important topics. If you want to get involved in discussions head to: http://www.youth.gov.au/ayf/  

A refreshing experience

!!!

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/17/wilson.faith/index.html

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

From me to you...

Photoblog coming...

The Canon G10. A gadget I highly recommend. I got one of these bad boys for Xmas - thanks Timothy. A photoblog will be coming when I master this machine. I want my pics to look like the pretty quality of Jason Mraz's. Scroll halfway down his blog and you'll see what I mean.

In the meantime, random shots I took last month...

after shopping, the nice suburbia of Auckland, NZ

TV On The Radio, Melbourne BDO

set list

Calendar Date - Basement Jaxx

PLEASE HELP

I am still in shock at how big the impact has been. 76 people dead. Today, I've been told that my friend's sister's home is gone. My other friend's father has been working all weekend to provide counseling and compensation to the families of the firefighters that have died. The worst thing is that some of the fires began with arson. You can read the news here Where ever you are please help and donate.

VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE FUND 

1800 811 700

M.I.A. better win that Grammy

And will pregnant Maya Arulpragasam perform live uncensored? Let's hope so or else I have no faith in award shows. 

This is our Jam...

Who loved White Chicks? I remember burning this song 10 times on a disc and giving it to a girlfriend as a birthday joke...

Im Sorry

I love Pharrell. 

The Breakfast Blog

Breakfast is a great thing, an awesome thing. Jamie Wodetzki is in fact a connoisseur of breakfasts.

The Breakfast Blog is the coolest thing since the invention of brioche in France... ??? wha...??? just go there.

http://thebreakfastblog.blogspot.com/

Solange is the business!

Man, one person I so wished to see live in 2008 was Solange. I first saw her being interviewed on Kimmel while doing the Star Wars junket in San Fran. (I love San Fran so much more now for meeting R2D2 and seeing Solange on TV for the first time) Then we head to Europe for work in November and the crew and I were a few days off her date in London and Manchester. Oh, how I wish she could be on VH in Oz!!

This woman is amazing. One of the best albums of 2008 was her 'Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams'. Personal song faves: T.O.N.Y., Would've Been The One, Sandcastle Disco, I Decided, 6 O'Clock Blues & Cosmic Journey. 

She's so honest in her interviews (which is a rare find peeps, see the Dec Issue of Paper Mag) and has great, great music taste. She's impeccable in fashion as was soooo perfect in her performance at Fashion Rocks last year. See below. 

And for her blog click here.

So let's hope more live gigs in '09? Or another killer record on the horizon. 

Metronomy - A Thing For Me

Request this for Valentine's Day...

SPIN IT, THEN MP3 IT

Future birthday present request? Teac's HiFi LP-R500, record player, cassette player, cd burner then rock it on your laptop. Sweeeeeeetnessss

Even Roberto would like this... 

 

Ways To Enjoy a Flight Experience

THE DOs    &  

 THE DON'Ts

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

DO

• Remember to pack whatever makes you happy, your tea, your candles, your do-rag, or that American Apparel uni-tard that does wonders for you on the dancefloor. 

• Leave your house at peace, not mid argument with anyone and don't leave still mad at your dogs for digging up your newly sewn baby carrots. Its just unnecessary bad energy. 
  

DONT

• Rely on your cab booking in Sydney. Unless you live off Paddington's 5 ways, forget about it, book it way in advance. Also change over at 3PM sucks.

• Read Blender Magazine's 10 Rock Star Plane Crashes, from Buddy Holly to Aaliyah. Nuff said.
  

ON BOARD

DON'T

• Offend other people with bad smells. There's this new thing called the 'deodorant'. The person next to stinky doesn't care if stinky has just come off a connecting flight from Ireland. Hygiene is good for everyone. 

• DON'T Read other people's work on their laptops next to you. It makes them paranoid. Back off wing/woman! Yes I know you're seeing me multi-task -  composing a blog, reading up on The Grates and checking my work email, it's reading my email I don't like... 

• Stare at people in a strange way from behind them. When they turn around they spook the freak out. That's right other lady, you're freaking me out. [In retrospect I should have just stared back]
  

DO

• Listen to Soul Food with Angela Catterns or Reelin' In the Years with Glen A Baker, the two highlights on Radio Q

• Quietly glance over to the generation before us handle technology. Perhaps just use your peripheral vision if you want to be more polite. The lady over the otherside of the aisle going through the instruction manual on how to use an iPod... very interesting...

• Eat the radcupcake on offer with pink icing on it. The best morning snack onboard Qantas. Request Soda Water mmmm, bubbly fresh... 

• Give your spare change to UNICEF. Change For Good! 

• Say goodbye to the lovely flight attendants on your way out. They may even sneak you a chocolate or the hardly used bottle of red from business if they love you that much...

Bars & Tones

Bars & Tones from André Chocron on Vimeo.

Christian Bale Gets Slammed - This is the Remix...

From one extreme to another...

It must be a slow news day. An example of what happens when you're an actor and then yell profanities at your co-worker and drop the f-bomb some 37 times. Someone does a remix. Warning: don't press play if you don't want a swear fest.

Far To Here...

Something definitely worth seeing. A photography exhibition touring Australia - Far To Here captures people's moving journeys from Darfur to Australia.

Melbourne: Feb 11-21, 2009 45 Downstairs Gallery

Canberra: Jun 17-July 5, 2009 Parliament House

Sydney: August 2009, Blender Gallery

Visit: www.fartohere.com for more information

A Heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genius and other books to read this summer...

It's hot in Australia right now. Heat waves riding through the east coast, the best way for me to escape is to hit the shade and READ. I'm finding this the best form of escapism from the "real world" and the short tempers that go with the hot weather. 

Although, books are the all weather friend. So I'm sure this is just as helpful where ever you are in the world right now.

Here's some picks from myself and Sydney acquaintances.

From well read book store employees:

Dave Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of a Staggering Genius". Eggers is a postmodernist writer. 

 

David Foster, "Infinite Jest". Foster also released collections of short stories. 

Nikki Gemmel's "The Bride Stripped Bare". Gemmel also has released "Pleasure: An Almanac For The Heart", a great book for women young and old. 

Some of my picks:

               

Lloyd Bradley "Bass Culture: When Regge Was King". A bit of music education... actually, it's very thorough.

Vikas Swarup, "Q & A", re-titled "Slumdog Millionaire". If you liked/loved the film, apparently the book is even better. I've just began reading this and beginning to think the same way... Spoiler alert: the ending is apparently different to the film... 

Dava Sobel, "The Planets". Tales, geography, myths of our planetary family.  

Thank you Amazon for the images. x 

Fave Movie Clip #2

Harold Crick goes shopping for an electric guitar in Stranger Than Fiction.The narration is just perfect. For many people I've met it seems like a love or hate film. I LOVE, LOVE this movie even more love for Will Ferrell for doing it. 

Fave Movie Clip #1

The Lonely Goatherd: The Sound of Music. How can you not be smiling when you see this part of the film?

In my most proper english accent:

"Isn't Julie Andrews just deeelightful?"

恭喜发财!

Gong Xi Fat Choi! 

(Happy New Year!)

I had a timely encounter with a lion dance after eating rice paper rolls with my 'ma in Richmond (Melbourne, Australia) this afternoon. The local news agent called on the blessings of the lions to come dance, eat cabbage, receive money in a red packet for its services and set some red pyro alight to scare all the evil spirits away.

----

I miss being a kid. I saw this over and over for days during the New Year. I lived and breathed every Chinese Festival with my Grandparents (though my fave was, and still is the Chinese Lantern Festival). I was in charge of the cymbols for our own Lion Dances at Chinese school. At home all I did was over eat on home made prawn crackers and achar while listening to old red cassette tapes my Grandparents blared through the stereo for weeks. Looking back I'm surprised that our Italian neighbours didn't bang on our door to turn the noise down,  ah the beauty of the Melbourne suburbs ;-). 

Nostalgia is a great thing.  

----

All I did for New Year was what I saw (above). No red packets, no prawn crackers... and just the thought of my dear Grandparents. Oh, I did pick up this neat hat on the way back to the car. 

The spirit is still in me though, and many blessings to you radcakes readers. To great health, prosperity and peace in 2009. Happy Year of the Ox!

I Can Only Dream

this poem is called "Someday, Someday"

Someday i will sell cd's-
so i can dress real real fly/

like kanye

and i will go to my show-
and tell my fans to eat shit and die/
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like kanye



thanking yous

Kids these days

This song and the clip are so incredibly perfect for one another. The clip feels exactly like what the song sounds like. Especially at 2:00 ish. Featuring the blackblack kids. 

The New Economy Stimulus Package...Me

I copped some new glasses the other day.


They're great.


They're a pair of vintage Dior Monsiuers that I found online and I'm so happy I got them.



But should I be?

I know that Costco sells frames for mad cheap, probably 6 times less than i paid for these. And further to that I've got like four or five frames floating around my apartment back in Sydney that I could have started wearing instead of buying new ones.

And not that I care, but the evidence is mounting that I make poor financial decisions.

Everywhere I turn I'm confronted by a failing economy where job security is an increasingly fleeting luxury.


With things as bad as they are there's probably no room for buying things like shoes Kanye designed:



...............................................................................but i still will.

Because when everyone else is unwilling to buy so called luxury items, preferring to appropriate their income streams towards boring things like food, water, and electricity...IIIII am more than happy to forgo sustenance for days on end, replacing meal time with time I spend walking around listening to the Chronic how Dr. Dre meant for it to be heard.

So what...am I just impervious to the onslaught of warnings and doom predictions that fill the space between the end credits and the opening montage of my daily routine at the moment?

Am i going to wake up one morning to find all the other sensible people getting by just fine on there well planned savings while I wander the streets searching for my next meal.

Inevitably I'll spend my whole life priding myself on thinking outside of the box only to end up living in one.




But that can't be a picture of me

look at the shoes dammit...

I'm gonna be one good looking bum.....i'll be wearing these




Diddy said it first but:

"it's all #@!&%# up now"...

this calls for a song >>>>>>>>>>>>

Janelle Monáe

Another great woman in music. It's always refreshing when this happens. I know she's been making music for a while now but this blew me away. Those words, those words!

For more on Janelle click here.

The Art of Letter Writing

I hope isn't dead. I think about letters received and written and the most poetic of words stem from passion, love and loneliness. It reveals feelings so deep that perhaps one may not be able to string such words together when face to face. 

It's true, (Ms. Doyle) that in the digital age the act of pen to paper is far more meaningful. Perhaps (unlike the book) we don't use words that were thrown around in the 1750s in a letter to a loved one these days. Despite this, language is so important, I sure hope the words we use on paper are far better than a lyric from a basic pop/cheesy RnB song from the last decade or so.

I picked up "Love Letters Of Great Men" today. The words between Denis Diderot and Sophie Volland are some of my favorite at first glance Here's two excerpts:

First from Diderot, 1759

"I am wholly yours - you are everything to me; we will sustain each other in all the ills of life it may please fate to inflict upon us; you will soothe my troubles; I will comfort you in yours...

Never was a passion more justified by reason than mine...

 I am as happy as a man can be in knowing that I am loved by the best of women"

pg. 30-31

From Volland, 1759

"... your very presence would not have delighted me more than your first letter did. How impatiently I waited for it! I am sure my hands trembled when opening it. My countenance changed; my voice altered...

My affection for you is ardent and sincere. I would love you even more than I do, if I knew how."

pg.31

Ying Ang

Some people are amazing.

Although as most of you know my own mode of creative release is through music, let's be real, most of the time music is formulaic. It's many lakes and ravines remain tainted by the capitalistic runoff of the fat cats uphill. And in many cases, not all, music is been stifled by the pursuit of happiness, which translates into the pursuit of cash for many.

The best art evokes emotion, forces you to confront issues, and grants you a perspective on things that you normally wouldn't have.


Ying Ang's work does more than that.

She is an amazing photographer and one of the most gifted artists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.



I won't say any more...lest I detract...

please love it as much as i do

and here is her blog

http://posthalcyon.wordpress.com/2008/12/

DIRECTORY

Frustration flipped on the other side. The amount of times we've had to s-p-e-l-l street names, shop names, suburbs. Perhaps we should do this instead just to screw with it...

Ps. Fonejacker is THE best. The longer stints have made me cry with laughter... 

One more time, with feeling... 

Sell Out to Sell Out: Re-Invention

Hello young budding singer/songwriter/waiter!!!

Welcome to the first in a series of lessons designed to help you navigate the often tricky and hazardous roads of the entertainment industry.

Lesson 1: Surviving in a competitive market

So you've worked hard as an artist establishing yourself as the young heartthrob crush of millions of tweens now out there happily buying your cds:


Then the evil conglomerate that is Disney devises a scheme that will foil all of your best laid plans by trumping your one teen heartthrob from the hood, with three from the suburbs:

Blasted!!!

The tweens are bound to relate to their round the way clean cut charm more than your busted red Timbelands and "CZed" bling.

You may think to yourself "How can you possibly compete with that?"

Cue the light bulb...

What's the one thing that all girls old and young will always relate to better than a cute boy, no matter where he might be from?

Other girls!!!:


Problem Solved!!!



This lesson was brought to you by>>>

THE SECOND THING YOUR LAPTOP NEEDS

SPOTIFY!

I know that Roberto would still be filing through vinyl today but perhaps he would bend towards the digital realm - on this one exception.

It has been dubbed the 'World's Celetial Jukebox'. Spotify launched in Sweden last October and has over 90% of music catalogues at your fingertips. It's all good in Europe and the U.S. (I'm pretty sure) but has yet to launch in Australia.

Best yet, the artist gets paid. Mmm hmmm.... Spotify me, Spotify you...

Wow

Well it doesn't have to be said how amazing today is.

As much as I was griping before, I do have to say I feel incredibly honored to be here touring such an amazing and revolutionary time for this country.

I don't want to harp on too much because I know that everyone will be and I doubt any of us can do justice to the magnitude of the day.

But of course I see all things through music and I found this clip of Jay-Z in DC the other night doing a live remix of Young Jeezy's "My President is Black".

Now to clarify I think that Jeezy's track is dumb and focuses predictably more on materialism than on the new commander in chief.

However, the thing about this clip is not so much how good the verse is. I mean it is great as you come to expect from Jay. But the incredible thing is you can practically feel the electricity and the excitement in the air, even through the crappy qaulity recording.

He can't even get through four bars of the first verse without the crowd absolutely losing their minds.

The track doesn't start till around 1:20 so skip unless you want to hear Jeezy talking shit...


It's pretty incredible, check it here


just one thing though...

is everyone cool with us not reffering to the president as "my nigga" anymore?

that cool?

how bout not calling anyone that?

all gravy?

ok great thanks

=====UPDATE======


Here's the track