Introducing: Allusive Collections
Even if you have never experienced a mind-blowing arts and crafts orgasm like this little old lady, you can still hopefully appreciate art when you see it. And surely enough when I stumbled across ALLUSIVE COLLECTIONS - a collabrative art project that aims to showcase artists by using clothes as a canvas - I thought to myself “fuck, that’s cool”. But several minutes of Facebook stalking failed to provide me with enough information, so we asked founder, Jason Hazle, a few questions about Allusive Collections and how he hopes to spread the word(image) of local artists.
Who is behind Allusive Collections?
Allusive Collections was started by myself, I wanted to help promote new artists and have them involved in clothing, as well as selling their prints and holding exhibitions. The artwork on our shirts is hand drawn only, we want to stay away from anything graphical or done by a computer. Jesse Dolman and Will Duncan are my main two artists and they come up with the designs on the clothing. 
Where are you guys based?
In Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast.
Why did you guys decide to use clothing as a way to showcase different artists?
Clothing is just one of the ways we showcase the artists work. It’s a good way to promote the artists because so many people can view their work this way which then, hopefully, will get people interested in the company so they will check out the website or come to an exhibitions and see other displays by the artist which will help to get their name out there.
Do you think there is a fine line between art and fashion?
Art to me is just some drawing or painting and it’s up to the viewer whether to like it or not. Fashion, I think, is how someone tries to look good, so they are a little bit different in my opinion. What we are doing is art based clothing in the form of t-shirts, whether people like it because of the art or because they think it’s in fashion that’s for them to decide but I think the line is definitely there, I suppose they’re both creative expression.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
We want to hold some more events with a bunch more artists and bands and hopefully create another range. We are only new so we are still trying to build and promote the company and we are hoping to get some more artists involved to promote.
We saw you guys had an exhibition last month which looked super rad! Any chance you’ll be putting on another one some time soon… maybe in Brisbane?
Our goal is to hold at least four a year and hopefully we can double that in future, we would love to start holding some interstate and if people would be interested in us holding one is brissy it is something we would defiantly be interested in, maybe Bats can cover it??
What’s your advice to other local artists who are looking to get their work seen?
Get a blog or a website going and promote your work, get involved in the art scene and start hitting up people who run events or galleries to see if they would be interested in showcasing you. If all else fails: hit up Allusive Collections.
Where can our readers find your threads?
At the moment we are stocked in, Black Anchor Collective, Hello Friend, House of Humility, Hollow & Whisker, Fred & Ginger, Atlas Divine and Mofo but you can check us out at allusivecollections.com if your after art work.
SPOOKED
The kind folk at SPOOK magazine recently interviewed us about all things BATS-related; from our humble beginnings, to our future dreams of owning an island and calling it “Batopia”, as well as the real reason why we decided to name our magazine “BATS”. So if you’re fucking bored and sick of refreshing your Facebook newsfeed only to see numerous updates of Osama’s death, click on through and read the interview in full here.
Introducing… Austen Romance
A budding designer with a penchant for unconventional fabrics and essential accessories, Sarah Lamkin from Austen Romance is once again showing that Brisbane does have some raw, wild talent. Combining eclectic ideas to make soft, wearable and fun fashion. Our personal favourites are her line of collars that are the perfect accent to any outfit.
Check out our interview with the designer herself giving an insight into the constructs of her collection and what makes her create:
When was the first moment you realized you wanted to create clothing?
It wasn’t really a whole realisation for me, I’d sew to escape where my mind was at and when I decided to make this top with a flowered halter neck I thought “Hey! I want to do more of this!”.
What designers inspire you most?
A lot of my inspiration from the designs I’ve put out there developed from Marie Antoinette’s style in the french revolution with a modern twist. But my favourite designers are Alexander McQueen, Valentino and Chanel.
What are your favourite fabrics to work with?
I recently made a skirt out of transparent plastic, it was so easy to cut and was crazy fun to work with but alas in this weather will be very sticky. I also love chiffon because of the way it hangs and isn’t too thick to sew easily.
What are your favourite garments to make?
I adore making collars, I surprised myself when I learnt to make them because they are no way near are hard as you think they’d be. The many different layers of frills you can put all on the one collar and still make it work is my most favourite part of all!
What is your all time favourite creation?
My Vivienne Westwood winged platforms by Melissa.
If you had to be forced to wear either socks and jandals or braids, which would it be and why?
BRAIDS! Hair braids work, socks and thongs do not!
What fashion trend makes you gag? Bad Slogan Tee’s (only Wildfox get’s away with it) Which Disney Princess would you most like to dress and why?
Definitely Ariel, designing swimwear would be a eventful challenge for me.
Interview with HEALTH
According to their promo vid (shown below) for their upcoming Australian tour, HEALTH are still not afraid. Afraid of what? Australia isn’t that scary except for Bindi Irwin’s smiling face, shirtless bogans with Southern Cross tattoos and maybe the current floods in Queensland. Though rain nor shine will stop these dudes, who are kicking of their tour next Friday in Perth. Jake Duzsik from HEALTH was kind enough to answer our questions about their tour and who would win in a fight between Queen Latifah or Lil Kim…
Give us three reasons why your Australian tour will be better than Oprah’s recent tour of our country:
1. Oprah is fat.
2. That bitch can’t rock.
3. Fuck Dr. Phill.
What brought you back for another Australian tour? Was it love at first sight?
Marsupials dude.
Do you guys have much free time on your tours to do any tourist-y things? I’ve lived in Australia my whole life but have yet to cuddle a koala. Is there anything you’re looking forward to doing on your Australian tour?
Last time we went swimming with wild Dolphins. We are definitely going back to the beach, and if we have time I would love to spoon with a Koala, although I’ve heard that every once and awhile they awake from their stupor and attack the shit out of you.
The majority of the international bands we’ve interviewed have always said Australian crowds are the best crowds to play to, but we just reckon they were being nice. What do you really think of Australian audiences?
We definitely had great crowds on our first tour. I just figured you guys were full of beer and had heatstroke.
Is there a possibility you could make a sequel to the promo video you did for your 2010 AUS/NZ tour? Maybe one in which you could slowly burn a picture of Bindi Irwin?
We just did:
Once I was listening to ‘Die Slow’ and my Mum said “Turn that crap off, are you trying to give me a headache?”. What do you have to say to my Mum?
When we started our band we were never aiming to be popular with Mum.
If Julian Assange posted any unreleased demos from HEALTH on Wikileaks, would you be pissed off or flattered?
Flattered as hell.
What was HEALTH’s New Years Resolution for 2011?
Keep on rockin’.
Who would win in a fight out of the following:
Queen Latifah or Lil Kim? Latifah. She can throw that weight around.
Susan Boyle or Queen Elizabeth? Come one man, Queen Elizabeth is like 200 years old. She is probably already operated by animatronics. Boyle wins by default for still being able to get out of the tub on her own.
Zombie Brittany Murphy or Zombie Hitler? I don’t like it, but I’m gonna have to give that one to Hitler, because as everyone knows, he is still alive.
Dr Dre now or Dr Dre 10 years ago? 10 years ago.
What were the last three things you watched on Youtube? Street fighting footage from somewhere in the Middle East, autotuned goat singing with Usher, and Mussolini speeches.
What can our readers expect at your Brisbane show at Woodland Bar?
Loud ass show, very little stage banter.
What are your plans for next year? Can we expect any more tours or a new album?
As soon as we finish this Aussie tour we are putting everything on hold in order to write and record a new album.
HEALTH play in Brisbane next Saturday January 15 at Woodland Bar with The Death Set & DZ. Tickets are still available online here.
Interview: Metronomy
METRONOMY are coming to our shores this November to play at Harbourlife Festival 2010 (Gold Coast & Sydney) along with The Temper Trap. METRONOMY’s frontman, founder and acclaimed “friendliest man in pop”, Joseph Mount, recently had a chat to us about Metronomy’s new album, The English Riviera, their upcoming visit to Australia for Harbourlife 2010 and the story behind why he owes “Pip Paine” £5000.
by Dominic Cusack
Well it’s coming out early next year, February or March. And umm…is there anything specific you’d like to know about it?
» Well the title’s The English Riviera and I was just wondering, isn’t that where Fawlty Towers was set?
Haha, yeah that’s right. It was just this place that I used to live near when I was growing up.
» So does the title have something to do with your childhood in Devon or is just something you thought sounded cool?
I don’t think people should read too much into the title. It’s just this name you’d associate with this golden, shinning, affluent type of a place, like the French Riviera, and in fact it’s the complete opposite. All things considered it’s pretty shit.
» I sort of thought Nights Out sounded like John Hughes DJing at a school disco in the year 2046. What is this new one going to sound like?
HAHA… Well this is the first time we’ve recorded in a studio, so it was a really exciting process. The last album was almost exclusively made on the computer but this time I just wanted to use real instruments. I’ve been playing on it and I’ve got a couple of friends to come down and play on it as well. As for how it sounds, it’s going to sound new but sort of familiar at the same time. You know what I’m trying to get at?
» If this new album was a colour, what would it be?
Umm…I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that question before (laughs). Actually I’ve been playing the new stuff to some people and they said, I don’t know if they were drunk or high, but they said it sounded sort of dark blue.
» Oh cool. But what kind of dark blue, like more of a turquoise colour?
I guess it would have to be an atmospheric dark blue.
» Your songs are often about romantic turmoil. Bad breakups and broken hearts. Saucer eyed young men starring out across the dance floor at the most beautiful girl in the club, wanting her but realising he’ll never be able to get her [I’m probably reading too much into these songs. That just sounds like me every time I go to Lambda/the Met/Mystique/Aged care facility]. To write about that stuff do have to have experienced it first hand or are you able to write about it when you’re eating cereal in your underwear at 4 o’clock in the afternoon picking dandruff out of your bowl of Weet Bix?
It’s funny, I never really thought of myself as much of a song writer. Every time I write [lyrics] I really find it an excruciating process. My technique… I guess my technique… I mean when you write about what’s in your head you sort of can’t help letting your subconscious seep out into the songs.
» I sort of gleamed that question from (the song) ‘Radio Ladio’. Was that about a specific incident that happened to you or was it just some kind of general observation?
Yes and no at the same time. I mean who hasn’t been in that situation before, you know?
