Swayze says

Paris is Burning // The Launch Party

2010-06-07T19:12:00.010+12:00

With our launch party coming up in a few weeks at La Maison (aka a big empty warehouse somewhere in Auckland), we thought we'd share some of our favourite tracks of the moment. Hopefully it'll get you in the mood for Paris is Burning on July 17th. In general it's got a Saturday-French-Housey-Disco vibe to fire you up for our little soiree. We are super f*cking excited and we have some chic sponsors to release this week which will reaffirm the type of party we are going to lay down. Oui Oui.

As well as Paris is Burning's Cam Robertson and moi, we've got Dangerous Dan Single of Ksubi fame, who will no doubt be bringing his hurricane style of hedonism. Joining him from Sydney will be MC Double D (ex Sneaky) who knows how to keep a party going. Its pretty much like a good ol' Hugo's Sunday (just in NZ!), with a cocktail of epic music, a great venue and the right people, mark this night as a must do!

Paris is Burning // The Launch Party
Saturday 17th July

La Maison, Britomart Auckland

Plus stream the Paris is Burning radio show on Saturday nights and RSVP to the party.

Cam Robertson's mix for the party is here (right click to download). Enjoy!

There is nothing bigger than this...

2010-05-21T10:22:00.003+12:00

Featuring Kobe, R-Fed and Homer, this Nike TVC for the World Cup is the business. It captures the excitement, does justice to the weight on the players shoulders and fires us up for the sporting event that is unrivalled by any other.

I'd love to see this in the cinema - but for now, enjoy.

You have to read: Monocle

2010-05-08T15:23:00.004+12:00

With internet and mobile web usage now the social norm, it's an arduous task for any traditional print media companies to survive. Over the past couple of years, with the industry in flux, we've seen Rupert Murdoch's News Limited looking to charge users for online content, new business models being created like 'freemium' and a number of newspapers and magazines down-sizing and falling over. Just this year we've also seen the launch of the Newspaper killer... the iPad, which has seen global powerhouse magazines rushing to produce their content for this new platform. So is print dead?

With all of this in mind, I still believe wholeheartedly, there is a place for quality print. Traditional retail still exists in the proliferation of e-commerce, because of two key drivers - proximity (or convenience) and the shopping experience. Much like the traditional retail offering needs to provide the customer with an experience to out-do an online shopping transaction if it wants to compete, so does a magazine. One of my favourites is the truly international Monocle.

Monocle's content is sophisticated, wordly, diverse and so credible and their design conscious aesthetic rewards you instantly for picking up a physical copy. Reading about great design, architecture or fashion is made much more of an experience if the way in which you're consuming the content reinforces the design beliefs. It's rather ironic then that I mention this in my blog, but I really wanted to draw attention to the fact we recently brought a Monocle writer out for the launch of the new Air New Zealand 777-300's.

This has in turn led to Monocle picking up on other innovative Kiwi design triumphs, which is great for NZ's profile as a place where world class design lives. As I mentioned Monocle picked up our story, but also cottoned on to my mate Scrap Wall's uber cool new boxer shorts 'Confidentials'. Nice one Scrap.

Obviously, they were fortunate enough to get to my favourite Auckland store naming the The Department Store' as one of the 25 Retail Stars. No mean feat.

So here's to magazines such as Monocle that are synonymous with quality and portray an elegant sophistication in their aesthetics, to keeping print magazines alive. Keep an eye out for Master Mouse Patrol which launches this week too. Editor Sam will swear by the same sky high quality ethos as Monocle, but will have a more street level approach to cool. And finally let's also hope Kiwi design can keep taking on the world so we can keep picking up influential international reads and feel proud.

You wanted a hit

2010-05-01T07:55:00.000+12:00

James Murphy and co are back with another masterpiece. If you thought it would be tough to beat Sound of Silver especially the timeless 'All my friends', which is also one of my top ten tracks of the last decade and the hauntingly beautiful 'Someone great', then you would not be alone.

Whether or not This is happening, can even be in the same league as it's predecessor is a question in itself. Much like their release of 'North American scum' as the opening single on Sound of Silver, they have gone out with a rockier, heavier single in 'Drunk girls' to introduce us to what Murphy himself describes as their best (and apparently last, fuck it) album yet.

'Drunk girs' the only track under 7 minutes, is therefore the only radio friendly single and like North American Scum, doesn't grab me, instead it's the 8 minute, building epic 'Dance yourself clean' that is on repeat on my iPod. You want to listen to this from start to finish. Loud. Other tracks of note include the ironic 'You wanted a hit', which as self deprecating as it is, probably sums up the New Yorkers outlook that has seen them been the face of the DFA label for almost a decade.

This album will get remixed to death this year, but fellow DFA darlings Holy Ghost is an early contender for my favourite re-rub, (see below) but watch this space.

Lcd Soundsystem - This is happening is out May 17th

Download: LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
Download: LCD Soundsystem - You wanted a hit

Download: LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls - Holy Ghost

M.I.A - Born Free?

2010-04-27T18:27:00.014+12:00

Sri Lankan British indie gangstar M.I.A is back with her new single. Although the actual track doesn't take me like Paper Planes or much of her earlier stuff, for that matter, the video is worth a watch. From Romain Gavras, the director who produced a similar uncomfortably real look at Paris youth gangs in Justice's Stress comes another doco style clip. This one perhaps doesn't grab me like Stress, but at least provokes some thought, unlike 99% of other video's being produced today.

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

It's small and it's white

2010-04-19T07:56:00.000+12:00

No, I'm not talking about some of Colombia's finest, but one of New Zealand's latest coffee companies to release their fair trade organic coffee. I haven't had the chance to try any yet, but let's just hope that Eight thirty's coffee tastes as good as their sense of humour. The sleek, minimal design of their packaging also gets a tick from me. So with all of the ingredients for a product launch in 2010 we will probably see Eight Thirty most mornings very soon.

Summer (or Winter) Love

2010-04-12T20:27:00.000+12:00

The New Zealand autumn is always a good time of year... for music that is. Not for the fact it is slowly getting colder by the day, Sav is being replaced by Pinot, morning runs for the gym and benders for DVD's. The Northern Hemisphere Spring produces a shit load of great new music, all ready for the European / US summer, from Winter Music conference in Miami, SXSW in Austin to Coachella in the US desert, all the hot new bands, step up to the plate. Who is going to be the next Florence, the new Passion Pit and so on.

Well I'm going to pick a few now, that will be on everyones lips this summer.. err winter. You get the drift.

Two Door Cinema Club are a Northern Island three piece signed to french purveyors of cool Kitsune and there indie pop, has summer roadies written all over it. The picks of their debut are the infectous Something good can work and What you know and the two re-works below are the pic of the remixes so far, and there are a few.

Download: Two door cinema club - Something good can work (The twelves remix)
Download: Two door cinema club - What you know (Redlight remix)

Flight Facilites hailing from Australia, have some how managed to bring back what a year or two ago I would have said was impossible through their Crave you. This French 90's house inspired track is already number 1 on beatport and will no doubt start a the revival of a softer dance sound. Giselle's vocals on are break taking and when you hear this, you are transported to late Friday night.

Download: Flight Facilities - Crave You, featuring Giselle (version 2)

Miami Horror are well known to most Sydney and Melbourne kids, however the lads are just starting to make waves internationally. Their indie electro sound is much like Modular darlings Cut Copy and they will rip it up when here for Deep, hard and funky. Let's hope we see the full band back here soon, which just quietly, I know we will.

Download: Miami Horror - Sometimes (Shazam remix)

I don't know much about Thieves of Aon, yet. However, I do know that they are Melbourne based, and sound like a cross between fellow Victorians Miami Horror and the best live band in the world right now French pop stars Phoenix. That is pretty big call but if I'm right it's a winning formula, so my pick is you will here more from these guys, soon. Fact.

Download: Theives of Aon - Eskimo

Tom Ford's 'A Single Man'

2010-04-02T18:37:00.000+13:00

After debuting at the Venice Film festival in September 2009 and being received to critical acclaim, the worlds most versatile and avante garde fashion designer Tom Ford's first foray into feature films is finally almost here on our shores. Set in 1962 and starring Colin Firth who has picked up a Bafta among other awards for the role, but is the ease that Ford has successfully transferred his artistic talents to film that has most people talking.

A Single man is released in NZ on May 6th.

Come play 'Behind the Vines'

2010-03-29T13:57:00.005+13:00

New Zealand's premier Kiwi-owned music festival Rhythm & Vines is probably the biggest weekend of the year for music fans and ravers alike. Moving into its 8th year this summer, its no secret that a shit load of preparation goes into making the festival world class.

One of the challenges for the R&V team is getting summer revelers to Gisborne, an isolated surfers paradise on the East cape of the North Island. The one thing we do know, is that when people make it there, they have the best fucking time. Envious UK journo's who will often be wrapped in wool at Christmas constantly cite R&V as a 'must do'. The Guardian and The Times are among the fans of R&V. Perhaps they have been chatting to Moby, Mylo, Carl Cox, P-Money or Luke Steel from Empire of the Sun? In fact it's quite uncanny the number of high profile artists who walk away from Gisborne blown away, actually saying it's the best place they've played at. Something in the... err, vino?

Well hopefully their new blog Behind the Vines will help illustrate the blood, sweat and tears that go in to putting on the countries best festival, to ensure more Kiwi's can expereince the only world class, three day music festival in NZ.

Check it out here.

You me oui, that is all

2010-02-02T22:20:00.000+13:00

Every now and then I come across something simple I love. Here are three images that are just that.

New York, I love you

2010-01-26T08:05:00.000+13:00

In the style of the artistic Paris Je Tamie, which was shot in a series of unrelated pieces around Parisian stories. New York, I love you stars Natalie Portman, Shia LaBeouf, Orlando Bloom, Ethan Hawke, Andy Garcia and many more Hollywood stars as they all look for love in NYC. The list of credible directors is similarly long, so this is one flick I can't wait to see.

New York, I love you is out in New Zealand on May 6th.

My tracks of the decade

2009-12-21T13:00:00.001+13:00

My good friend Dan over at Conceptual Traders asked me recently to name the top ten tracks of the last decade. So I did. These tracks defined the last ten years of my life. Not only for their actual sound, but for the fact they were the soundtrack to the places, good times and unforgettable people I have met and spent time with. These tracks are the signature soundtrack to those fucking amazing memories.

LCD Soundsystem – All my friends

An epic building anthem that sums up the late nighthedonism of my first few years in Sydney.

M.I.A – Paper Planes
A genre defying, game changing track, that still makes me sing. Produced bynone other than Diplo. Was a massive Indie hit, before it went mainstream viaSlumdog.

Mylo – Drop the pressure
The signature track to his first album, on repeat for about 12 months on everydance floor. Club music doesn’t get any better than this.

Justice v Simian – We are your friends
The first track to really define the blog-house scene. Indie & Electro werenow friends and skinny jeaned and fluro fags united on the d-floor!

The Strokes – Last night
The best band of the decade. Hands down. The uber cool, rich kids from New Yorkdelivered two great albums. This was the track that got me into them and isequally poppy as it is cool.

Jay Z – Empire state of mind
The soundtrack to my recent New York trip. Using the word ‘Inspiring’ isdefinitely not quite doing the song justice, but I get goose-bumps every time Ihere the first beat.

Hot Chip – Over and over
Another blog-house favourite. Equally as good at 8am on the way to work, or 8am,when errr, not on the way to work…

M.A.N.D.Y & Bookashade – Body language
The score to my time in Barcelona, it is then without saying that a lot of thattime was spent in clubs.

The Knife – Heartbeats
Another epic track, that Jose Gonzales covered to make it big. As equallyhaunting as it is brilliant. The Rex the Dog Mix is probably just as good.

The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
The most recognisable opening to a song, pretty much owned me anytime it cameon in the last seven years.

Shopping the way it should be

2009-12-05T13:42:00.004+13:00

What a refreshing surprise. A new retail destination in Auckland that isn’t run of the mill. Yes, I’m talking about ‘The Department Store’, the first one of its kind to open in the country for 100 years!

The brainchild of the fashion forward Karen Walker, Dan Gosling and Stephen Marr, this retail experience is hopefully a sign of things to come for Auckland and maybe the rest of NZ. The three level space, consists of guys & girls street wear including Karen Walker, SGC and Sydney labels Ksubi, Bassike and Chronicles of Never which will help your ‘indie’ look for being in the front row for Florence and the Machine at Laneways (can’t wait!). A collection of Scandinavian-esque, minimalist furniture from the likes of designer from the Simon Brown also get the tick of approval. Upstairs consists of a new Stephen Marr salon, an art gallery which was showcasing some of Derek Hendersons iconic Kiwi photography and a powder room for the ladies. If there is anything they could improve, they should look at getting some more men’s clothing and it’s also a shame they aren’t licensed, a post-shop Peroni or a glass of Sav would go down a treat.

When in London a visit to Selfridges is essential, as is Barney’s in New York, now you can have your own retail experience (a small one albeit in comparison to the other two) in Auckland… Well Takapuna anyway. At least it gives us a chance to get out of Ponsonby (only 7 mins from Herne Bay, as stylist & the store manger Brian pointed out today) on a Saturday arvo.

Someone who will no doubt visit when he is back in the country is Kevin Roberts. The Saatchi & Saatchi boss is an avid believer (as I am) of the importance of creating an experience when creating a retail environment. The sharp black and white branding has a premium feel, yet the simplicity of the design lets the content of the shop do the talking. The thing I love about The Department Store is that it’s a retail experience unlike anywhere else in NZ. Once you arrive, you kind of feel no desire to leave. You could probably spend a morning in there, checking your emails (or updating your status to skite about your epic new kit) on the free Wi-Fi, refuel for the trek back to Ponsonby on A grade coffee, get your haircut and possibly buy your new Rhythm and Vines outfits (three days of unpredictable temperatures, dust, hot hot sun and some vigorous sweating requires some careful thought).

With the hipster-friendly labels, solid coffee, the clean minimalist space and the approachable yet attractive, stylish staff, I think I know where I’ll be doing my Christmas shopping this year. If you’re like me and think shopping should be fun, I will probably see you there.

The Department Store, 10 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland

These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you…

2009-11-08T16:21:00.003+13:00

I recently had the privilege of being hosted in New York City by the Absolut company.

In my mid-twenties and considering myself reasonably well traveled, – having visited Europe, Asia, studied in Barcelona and lived in Sydney – I still hadn’t been this excited about a destination. Getting to the greatest city in the world, the last stop on my ‘must do’ list. In the lead up to my trip, all of my friends who had either lived in or visited the Big Apple, said the same thing: ‘Tom, you will love that city, it’s your kind of place. You won’t ever want to come home’.

Of course I took this with a large rocky grain of salt. But all the same, I couldn’t help but feel like 5-year-old boy expecting his first bike on Christmas Eve, or a knobbly-kneed, pimply 18-year-old All Black on debut.

Now that it’s over, I honestly don’t really know where to start. However, I think the closest I could describe the feelings I had in New York, were what it must be like to fall in love. New York City is like a drug. All I can think of now that I’ve had my first hit is how to get more. Like a late-night Marlboro cigarette from a yellow cab, objectivity is out the window. Instead a heart-pounding sense of lust and a mind distorting shift of priorities.

New York in fall. Halloween. The New York Marathon. The Yankees clinching the World Series. When I look back, it feels like I was there at the right time to fully embrace the city. But it wasn’t these events that defined my stay. It was the energy, the opportunity, the inspiration, the optimism that will long outlive the week’s events.

The soundtrack to the city on the first week in November was ‘the people’s New Yorker’ Jay-Z’s newly released anthem and ode to NYC, Empire State of Mind. If you listen to the lyrics, it accurately captures a little of what I am trying to get across on this post.

New York, Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new,
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York

What Jay-Z is saying is another attempt to capture the inspiration you feel in NYC. There are endless quotes, lyrics and cliches that also grasp the magic that is New York City. One of my favourites is from the late John Lennon. “If I’d lived in Roman times, I’d have lived in Rome. Where else? Today America is the Roman Empire and New York is Rome itself.”

In Manhattan pop culture references surround you. Whether it was Sinatra, Sex and the City, Warhol or Breakfast at Tiffany’s there are so many sights, sounds and experiences that have sculpted my view of this city. What I wasn’t prepared for was what can’t be replicated on film, captured on record or painted on canvas – the feeling of inspiration.

I haven’t yet touched on the amazing, warm people I met in Manhattan, or necking Dom by the bottle on Halloween at Jude Law’s club The Box in the Meatpacking district. I haven’t given any detail about being hosted by Sarah and her team of 4 Swedish Absolut ‘Brand Ambassadors’, or mentioned the Monet exhibition at the MoMA. I could talk about the ‘Speak Easy’ bars and restaurants such as La Esquina we visited, establishments that resemble bunkers, a direct result from the prohibition days.

However all of this seems irrelevant when you look at the big picture: New York is the centre of the universe. It’s not about each place on a map, it’s about the things you can’t touch, the inspiration and opportunity and excitement that flows through your veins. If you want to be inspired like I was, you will be formulating a plan to get your next hit.