Aussie DJ and Producer Brandon Mangion teams up with Mindfull Aus to shine a light on youth mental health
Since late-March the COVID-19 pandemic has hit many Australians hard. With the lack of social interactions, human connection and a clear headspace has been a battle many are fighting – and for some a battle that has lasted years.
For talented Australian DJ and Producer, Brandon Mangion, isolation has been a blessing in disguise, taking this opportunity to flourish and work with Mindfull Aus, to offer a relatable voice that can understand those who suffer from mental health.
“Since COVID happened I’ve used this opportunity to grow. I was very ego-driven and was caught up with alcohol and substance abuse. So, you know, COVID was a wakeup call, I used it as a reset and I’ve just been working on my personal development and self-growth. In the last eighty or so days, I feel like a whole new person. We may be in lockdown, but I feel like it’s been the best few months of my life,” says Brandon.
One half of the dynamic and energetic duo Teddy Cream, at just 24, Brandon has amassed a list of incredible achievements under his belt. From music tours to campaigning for what he believes in, this DJ doesn’t shy too far for creating a voice for those that need it most.
Just recently, he decided to team up with Mindfull Aus, to champion those that are struggling with mental health and to let them know this is not a road they have to walk alone.
He explains, “I feel like because the world is full of chaos and pandemonium. So, right now the world needs leaders, people that can be a shining light on this dark time.
“I was really moved by their cause and I thought together we could make a difference. So, I thought ‘what can I do?’ [In that], I decided to do a year sober. I wanted to go that extra mile and really challenge myself and do a year. In doing this, I’m not only helping myself but others because I’m leading by example,” he continues.
Founded on the premise of a youthful and relatable approach to talking about our emotion and thoughts, Mindfull Aus defeats the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, by changing the way wellbeing and suicide is viewed in the public eye.
By encouraging those to practice self-acceptance, Brandon situates himself as a friend, open to conversations and expressing vulnerability. All to birth strength and courage to young Australians and towards a road to wellness and fulfilment.
Despite his purpose, Brandon’s journey has not always been rainbows and sunshines – experiencing his own fight with his demons. Explaining to fans on social media, he tells the story of his six-year battle with alcohol and substance abuse whilst touring on the road.
Alongside the partnership, Brandon has embarked on a ‘Fight for Mental Health’ mission, challenging himself to achieve a personal goal towards a year of sobriety. Inspired by a similar cause by his good friend, Darcy Ellis – owner of HitFit Boxing and father Lester Ellis, Brandon has ventured towards his journey to self-care, hoping to make a change in not only his life, but in someone else’s.
Racking up more than $5000 as of recently, this compassionate young man has built a platform to be of service to others, knowing that there are people out their suffering from mental illnesses single-handily.
“I was using the things I was learning to help others, but you sort of don’t realise that you actually drown trying to be someone else’s anchor. I was focusing on helping everyone else but myself. I was neglecting my own self-care. So, I took that journey of ‘I need to make a change for myself’, and in doing that I’m helping more people now. I’m becoming a better person and I can be of help to others in a much more beneficial way.”
After some time and willpower, Brandon is happy, healthy and currently more than two months sober. With a great headspace and support from those around him, he is now long on his way to a year of recovery.
With that, Brandon Mangion, leaves some words of encourage, emphasising that it’s okay to not be okay.
“Know that it is okay to be going through these things, it’s normal. Please don’t try to bottle everything up and act like you’re okay when you’re not. There are people out there who can support you. Reach out. People do care about you and it takes great courage to speak up and admit that you struggle with something. If you can come out and share your story, you can inspire someone else to make a change in their life for the better.”
Check out Brandon’s Fight for Mental Health here.
Powderfinger are releasing an album of unreleased songs this year
Aussie rock legends Powderfinger are 2020’s saving grace, announcing a full album of previously unreleased tracks.
Revealing the news in an interview with Double J’s Caz Tran, Powderfinger guitarist Darren Middleton and drummer Jon Coghill revealed that we’ll be getting a slew of unreleased material that was recorded in the making of Odyssey Number Five.
“We were in putting together Odyssey Number Five 20th anniversary release and we went back and found like 50 songs that we had never released,” said Coghill.
“And we’ve got the 10 best, we think.
“There’s gonna be a new album this year at some stage. New songs. No one’s heard any of them. And it sounds pretty good to us. It’s been put together really well.”
According to the pair, the tracks on the upcoming record span 10 years, recorded as far back as 1998.
“We trawled through our hard drives and went, ‘This is actually a pretty good bunch of songs here,’” Darren Middleton said.
“‘Maybe we should do more than just put them out as extras. Maybe we should do something with it. See if anyone’s interested in listening’.”
The upcoming album will be the follow up to Powderfinger’s final album Golden Rule, released back in 2009 and preceded their 2010 breakup, which saw their iconic Sunsets Farewell Tour.
Lucky for us, we won’t have to wait too long for a taste of the ‘new’ material either, with their first single ‘Day By Day’ set for release on Friday, September 18.
It was only earlier this week that Powderfinger announced they are bringing out a special re-release of Odyssey Number Five for its 20th anniversary, and we must say, with all this good news, our happiness is slowly creeping back.
The Victorian government is developing a plan for re-opening the state
The Victorian government is consulting with a range of health experts, industries, unions and community organisations to develop a ‘COVID Normal’ roadmap for easing restrictions across the state, announced Premier Dan Andrews this morning. The plan will be revealed on Sunday September 6.
The plan aims to provide clarity and certainty for Victorians and will outline how businesses and workplaces operate across all industries post-lockdown.
Andrews revealed that workplaces across all industries can expect to implement measures such as physical distancing, including limiting the total number of staff and customers in enclosed areas and ensuring staff work from home wherever possible; making sure staff wear a face covering at all times in the workplace; introducing hygiene standards in which high-touch points are regularly cleaned, staff wash their hands regularly and hand sanitizer is available for staff and customers; and enforcing a strict policy for staff to stay home and get tested if they become unwell, even with mild symptoms.
The plan will also involve ‘workforce bubbles’ in which prolonged and close contact between staff members is limited. The government are also looking at options such as moving lunch breaks and meetings outside.
It is likely that restaurants, cafes and bars will be required to move to al fresco seating where possible to reduce the number of patrons in enclosed spaces.
The Andrews government will spend this week gaining insight and feedback from industries in order to form a plan for reopening Victoria which will be finalised by the government and health experts. They’ll also consult with community support organisations to gather information relating to the impacts of social isolation.
“We know every Victorian wants certainty about the future – for them, for their family and for their work. By the end of the week, we will lay out a plan to re-open our state,” said Andrews.
“Workplaces will need to look very different as we find our ‘COVID Normal’. By working with business we’ll make sure that can happen practically and safely,” he added.
Andrews also made it clear that the ‘COVID Normal’ plan will remain in place for many months in order to avoid a third wave but that it will be a “substantially different framework” to previous lockdowns.
Melbourne’s six-week stage four and regional Victoria’s stage three lockdown period is due to end on Sunday September 13 and while the government is working on a plan for easing restrictions across the state, Andrews said he can’t rule out the possibility of extending the stage four restrictions at that time and that the next steps will be guided by the data.
This article originally appeared on Beat.
13 little things we miss, took for granted and can’t wait to have back
The indoors have never looked grimmer than now and we’re all starting to feel the itch of going out – I know I do. It’s those grand moments of going out and embracing our friends and family that we’re all missing and it’s without a doubt that we’re growing a little impatient.
Though with all the time we have on our hands, what better way to reminisce through life before COVID, by looking back at the most minimal instances we overlooked during our time of freedom.
Overpriced drinks and sticky floors
Ah yes, the club and bar scene. Those shots we all know and love, despite knowing it’ll break our bank accounts the next day. How about that tacky feeling of those carpet floors we all felt and most definitely cringed to or even the feeling of sweaty bodies right next to us?
Being pushed to the back of the festival
It may take a while for us to experience the atmosphere of festivals and concerts again and yes, we’re just as sad as you are. The moments of excitement and thrill mixed with the constant banging of shoulders is a memory worth missing. Whether you weren’t able to see the stage or if you were just there because you were forced to go, you’ve got to admit, those times were fun.
People watching
Those times of observation, where sitting at the back of a small café and just watching was completely normal and accepted. The feeling of warm coffee or tea – for all my non-coffee drinkers, running down your throat as you watch students, office workers and bystanders wait for their drinks.
It was the atmosphere of muffled chatter and brewing smell of coffee we can remember.
A good hug
Does anyone remember what a hug from a friend felt like? Yes? Then grant yourself lucky.
Now while hugging may be a bit awkward at first after restrictions, it’s the hugs we all received pre-lockdown that we’ll cherish forever. A warm embrace is what we all need right now, so hang tight they’ll be back in no time!
Sex
If your single… well good luck. Hang in there just a bit longer!
Turning down an invitation to an acquaintance’s birthday
For all the introverts out there, it’s those moments of choice we all missed. Whether it be making excuses up or straight up declining an offer we can all relate to. It’s the thought of being asked to an event that we so happily swept under the rug that we wished we had back.
Grocery shopping in peace
There was a time where grocery shopping wasn’t as stressful as today. From the beginnings of endless aisles of sold out toilet paper to our beloved fruits that have unfortunately all disappeared, where we wished our trip to the supermarket was hassle free.
We’ll certainly anticipate the day where we’re able to make the choice of buying luxury yogurt brands or the regular home branded goods.
The choice of going outdoors
This is quite self-explanatory. Though, if you’re looking for places to get a bit of fresh air during lockdown read here to clear some headspace for the rest of the week.
Using the public gym equipment
With social distancing measures and the concerns over hygiene at play, your regular gym sesh most likely won’t be the same again. It was those quick occasions where we silently praised other gym junkies and the practice of wiping down secondary sweat off the equipment that we overlooked too often.
While many of our home workout routines aren’t providing that certain fix lately, you’ll be thankful for the new and hopefully cleaner gym space. So not too worry, you’ll be looking like a snack but also feeling a bit less sweat-drenched.
That water-downed office coffee
Now I know a lot of us are stuck at home working remotely, and while it might be a blessing to some, you can’t help but miss the office environment. Those little breaks you reward yourself to chat with colleagues or that scent of diluted coffee, it’s a sight and experience we may miss.
Even though we’re getting quite accustomed wearing boxers or pyjamas to “work” at home, it was the office scene where we felt like we were actually getting some hard work done.
Traffic?
Traffic may be a bit of a stretch, but there were hidden pockets of gold in those moments where we were stuck in a line of cars and trucks. From using that time to put on makeup or catching a breather, getting stuck in traffic was a true blessing in disguise for some.
The adrenaline of thinking you forgot your myki card
It’s been quite a while since people have taken trains and buses to work or university, yet it was those few seconds where we felt the thrill of danger after seeing the PTV Authorised Officers even though, you most certainly knew you touched on – and yes, I am a victim of that heart attack feeling.
Planning friend catchups that never go through
Like having the choice to go outdoors were bad, we in no doubt miss the frequent phone calls and group chat messages of empty promises of – ‘oh yeah we’ll definitely catch up’. The constant bickering of which time best fit everyone’s schedule to picking a restaurant to eat at were truly happier times.
While we’re all stuck in quarantine, use this as a reminder to appreciate the things we have now.
Although, lock down may be stunting future plans, remember that staying apart at times like this is what’s keeping us together Stay safe and in no time, we’ll be able to experience these little things like before.
For information about the current restrictions, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.
There’s a very relevant psychological reason we’re all feeling like shit
I’m usually quite a chipper, positive and bubbly human, even in the worst of times, but returning indoors for the second wave of lockdown has quickly dwindled my enthusiasm.
Looking back to the first wave of restrictions, productivity was at an all-time high. I was nervous about what was happening but determined to make the best of it. I baked more cookies in a week than I have my whole life, I bought a Ukulele and would practice every single day, I signed up for a 49-day online yoga membership and spent many evenings rolling around on the mat in my room. I also spent most nights reconnecting with friends via the HouseParty app and I spent a pretty sizeable portion of my time chuckling at memes about it all. I was feeling good.
Then restrictions eased.
I experienced a short but sweet taste of normality, seeing friends and family at cafes and bars, exploring the great outdoors and indulging in beers and footy at a mate’s place… life seemed pretty sweet (relatively speaking of course).
But then the second wave came and the return to lockdown rules hit me for six.
Now I would rather order takeout than cook; I would rather turn on Netflix than pick up the Ukulele, and I would most certainly rather take a nap than practice yoga. The memes are all the same, and even though the Victorian government is scheduled to unveil a roadmap for easing restrictions across the state this Sunday, I’m at the point where I feel, that to some degree, these restrictions are never going to end… and I’m not alone.
During my weekend spent scrolling through Instagram (because what else have I got to do?), I came across multiple posts talking about something called ‘Surge Capacity’.
In an article originally posted by Mamamia, the writer described surge capacity as ‘a collection of adaptive systems, both mental and physical, that humans draw on for short-term survival in acutely stressful situations, such as natural disasters.’
According to the article, surge capacity only allows us to adapt to major disasters if they are temporary, however, with the pandemic, the disaster stretches out and has created a kind of uncertainty none of us is used to… and it’s an uncertainty that feels indefinite.
Essentially, everyone’s feeling like there’s no end in sight. And because this is going on and on, our ‘surge capacity’ is completely exhausted and it needs to be renewed.
When you think of it like that, it makes complete sense that we’re hitting a wall, especially considering it’s been six months now since the government tore out our hearts and stomped it flat with the onslaught of social restrictions, the closure of café and pubs, the cancellations of thousands of events, the order to work from home and the news that it was likely we wouldn’t see any festivals until there’s a coronavirus vaccine. That last one still hurts. Throw face masks and the rule against hugging your mates in, and it’s all looking pretty grim.
To overcome the effects of surge capacity, Mamamia suggest a couple of things, including accepting that our life is different now; expecting less from ourselves; recognising the different aspects of grief, and looking for both new and old activities that continue to fulfil you. How you do it is completely up to you, but the idea is to go easy on yourself.
Another important thing to do right now is to focus on maintaining and strengthening important relationships, connecting with those within your support network. If you need some ideas, we’ve come up with seven ways you can keep connected to your friends during lockdown.
Another post I saw explored the notion of expecting less from ourselves, talking about the pressure to be productive in a pandemic which I think is an important one to discuss.
Maria Thattil, Indian Australian beauty expert, fashion blogger and digital influencer, highlighted the difference between productivity incited by inspiration, and feeling the pressure to be productive to be ‘good enough’ or ‘keep up’.
It’s no doubt you’ve felt it – that pressure that this time in lockdown should be spent productively, whether that’s baking banana bread, exploring new hobbies or working on your fitness. Thattil emphasised the need to expect less from ourselves, and that particularly in times of a pandemic, simply just waking up and showing up for the day is enough.
“Overloading your psychological resources with pressure because of ideas on what you ‘should’ be doing in undue in a time where you are living through an emotional taxing global crisis. Be kind to yourself and know that being good enough isn’t conditional. You just ‘are’,” she said in a post.
So essentially, just because we have more time at home, doesn’t necessarily mean it equates to having more capacity to give attention. And that ties into the above phrase of ‘surge capacity’.
COVID-19 is an emotionally taxing event. We’re constantly hearing bad news, we’re reminded of the uncertainty surrounding the virus, we’ve had to completely change our lives, our financial situations have changed, and we’re also dealing with the anxiety around our own safety and the safety of our loved ones.
It’s a bloody shit time, to say the least, and don’t get me wrong; I’m so grateful for my job, my friends, and my family. Everything is great, but my overall positivity and that ‘spark’ I found in the first lockdown is a distant memory.
If I’ve learned anything from my weekend reading, it’s that we need to stop being so hard on ourselves. We’re bored, exhausted, stressed, anxious, annoyed, frustrated… the list goes on. So, if you don’t feel like maintaining a routine, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly; that’s perfectly okay. And you sure as hell don’t have to pretend to have it all together.
We’re in a global pandemic. Our surge capacities have crashed… but we’ll get there.
Be kind to yourself.
If you or a loved one need help, contact:
-headspace Geelong on 5222 6690
-headspace 1800 650 890
-Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
-Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
-Barwon Health Jigsaw triage 1300 094 187
-Bellarine Community Health 5253 0400
Five things to watch when you’re not watching Tenet
After a series of delays, last week finally saw director Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster Tenet hit cinemas. Okay, cinemas outside Victoria: thanks to coronavirus restrictions that have seen the state’s cinema’s shut their doors, we’ll have to wait until… well, for the next couple of weeks at least.
There’s no getting around it: this sucks. Tenet was shaping up to be the biggest film of the year, and while reviews have been varied, the critics are united in saying it’s one to be experienced on the big screen. But just because we’ll have to wait yet another few weeks to finally see it doesn’t mean we have to miss out entirely: we’ve put together a list of five viewing options to help ease the pain of a Tenet-free lockdown. Though you might want to also avoid free-to-air television, because those commercials for Tenet saying it’s “in cinemas now” is really rubbing salt into our wounds.
When you want to know more about “The Protagonist”:
Tenet’s lead character is known as “The Protagonist”; which may be for spooky spy reasons or just because nobody actually says his name in the movie. He’s played by John David Washington (Denzel Washington’s son), whose career has really taken off in the last few years. He was a series regular on Ballers, and had a small role in the (excellent) Robert Redford retirement film The Old Man and the Gun, but he really came to the notice of audiences with his leading role in Spike Lee’s 2018 film BlacKKKlansman. There he plays Ron Stallworth, a cop in 1970s Colorado Springs who manages to infiltrate the KKK (over the phone) and along the way comes to realise things aren’t quite as simple as cops always being the good guys. Based on actual events, it’s a darkly funny, occasionally uncomfortable film that’s a great showcase for Washington – though it’s unlikely his corny “white” phone voice gets much of a go in Tenet.
BlacKKKlansman is available on DVD, blu-ray, and streaming services including Netflix, Fetch, and Apple TV
When you want to get into the time travel angle:
Pretty much the first thing everyone guessed about Tenet from the trailers is that the story somehow involves a limited form of time travel – not so much jumping back and forward in time, as the ability to make time run backwards for a while (which is handy if, say, you’d like the bullet someone just shot into you to come back out again). While there’s hardly a shortage of time travel movies out there – and Nolan himself has always been fond of stories that play around with timelines – if you really want to go on a time travel binge, good news: from September 3rd SBS On Demand will have the complete run of the TV version of 12 Monkeys available to watch. That’s four whole highly entertaining seasons of messing about with timelines in an attempt to cure a deadly pandemic that wipes out most of humanity (uh oh) – and unlike a lot of recent science fiction series, this one actually manages to wrap everything up in a way that works.
12 Monkeys is available on SBS On Demand from September 3rd
When you want to watch another Christopher Nolan movie:
From all reports Tenet is, in style at least, something of a successor to Nolan’s biggest hit Inception. Which is probably why Inception was re-released into cinemas as part of the build up to Tenet; if you’ve got a copy lying around the house it’s always worth a second look, if only to try and figure out if the top does start to topple at the end. But there’s more to Nolan than just a lot of handsome guys in grey suits doing spy stuff; if Tenet’s take on time is what you’re interested in, both his previous film Dunkirk and his early film Memento mess about with timelines in ways that make the drama even more intense. Or you could just watch Interstellar and dream about a future where you can not only travel out of your house, but to the stars.
Christopher Nolan movies are available pretty much everywhere, though Memento is currently only available to stream on Fetch.
When you want to forget Tenet is even a thing:
What’s the one genre it’s safe to say Nolan won’t be tackling any time soon? Westerns! Which is probably a good thing, because a steely-grey colour pallete and fondness for cities and technology don’t really go well with the wild west. What does go well with the West whatever the era is Kevin Costner, who has quietly become the go-to actor when you’re looking to tell a story in which a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do (and what he’s gotta do just might involve killing off some varmits). Two of Costner’s recent trips out west are out now on DVD and blu-ray: the mini-series Hatfields & McCoys, a gripping take on the notorious feud between two families in the wake of the American Civil War (he plays the aptly named Devil Hatfield; the always entertaining Bill Paxton heads the McCoy family), and the first two seasons of gritty modern-day western Yellowstone, in which he plays a modern-day cattle farmer with some distinctly old west attitudes towards those who get in his way.
Hatfields & McCoys and s1&2 of Yellowstone are available on DVD amd blu-ray; the just concluded third season of Yellowstone is available on Stan
When you’ve seen the trailer featuring that plane crash too many times:
Crashing planes are a mainstay of Hollywood action, but is it just me or does the plane crashing into an airport hanger that’s a big part of the Tenet trailers look a lot like the plane crashing into an airport hanger that’s a big part of the opening of the awesome 90s action movie Face/Off? Legendary director John Woo isn’t someone who’s usually cited as one of Nolan’s inspirations, but Face/Off – which combines a lot of great action involving men in snazzy suits with a pretty nutty high-tech gimmick – definitely feels like the kind of film Nolan would have made in the mid-90s. Plus Face/Off features classic hams Nicolas Cage and John Travolta chewing the scenery like they haven’t eaten in a week: you really don’t need any excuse not to watch (or re-watch) it this (and every) weekend.
Face/Off is so good you already have it on DVD and blu-ray at your house, but it’s also available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Fetch.
Dan Tuffy triumphantly blends electronic and earthy sounds on his sophomore album, Letters Of Gold
I first heard Dan Tuffy way back in the 1980s when in Tasmania. He was a founding member of Wild Pumpkins at Midnight, which later went on to ARIA success, before heading off to Europe. Since 1995, Dan has been a Netherlands resident, writing, producing and performing while owner of Smoked Recordings.
It’s been three years since Dan’s 2017 debut solo album Songs from Dan which gathered much critical praise and had him busy touring Australia and Europe.
His new album, Letters Of Gold has just been released, and is a move away from his more country albums to a more unique approach where bass, electronic and percussive elements come to the foreground.
The recording process involved multiple collaborations musicians from around the globe including bass players Madelief van Vlijmen and Judith Renkema (The Netherlands), co-producer, midi programmer and sound-scaper Michael Turner (Australia) and multi-instrumentalists Lucie Thorne & Matt Walker.
I could spend some time talking about all the tracks on this album, but for our locale, the standout is ‘Big Man’, a tribute to our own Chris Wilson. This song was put together and previewed by Sarah, Fenn and George before being released.
A definite one for extended listening.
You can find this album in CD and vinyl, or stream it below.
4/5
Smoked Recordings
Geelong’s Type 1 Foundation is hosting a comedy night with Dave Hughes and Dave O’Neil
As we get deeper and deeper into round two of lockdown in Victoria, binge-watching content online has evolved from a popular pastime to an obligatory practice in staying sane while confined to our four walls and socially distanced from all our favourite humans.
While streaming services like Netflix, Stan and Binge have been great to fill the void, it’s been both inspiring (and refreshing) to see the local community also doing their bit to take their events online to share some joy as we continue to adjust to our current lives in isolation.
Ensuring we don’t go too long without fresh laughs; Geelong’s Type1 Foundation have organised a special virtual comedy night.
Titled Type 1 Lockdown Laughs, the event will feature none other than comedy sensation Dave “Hughesy” Hughes and comedy legend Dave O’Neil who will grace the virtual stage with their trade-mark styles of comedy this coming Friday, September 4, from 7:30pm.
Designed to raise awareness about Type 1, this event is completely free and will be ran via Zoom, however donations are much appreciated if it’s within your means.
If you haven’t heard of the Type1 Foundation before, it was founded by CEO Ange Liston-McCaughley after the sudden diagnosis of her daughter Lila at age 9, and is all about raising awareness of Type 1 Diabetes through education in schools, medical practices and the wider community.
With the mission to create a world that understands the impact of Type 1 Diabetes on the individuals and their families, the foundation began raising money to fund family support events and activities that provide invaluable support and connection to families living with Type1 Diabetes.
Since its beginnings, the Type 1 Foundation has supported individuals and their families Australia-wide at no cost – from diagnosis right throughout the journey – and this event is just one more way for the foundation to continue to provide support to help families live positively with Type 1 Diabetes.
If you’re keen fora good ‘ol big belly laugh, you can register for the free event here.
Please note, this event is 16+ only.
Immerse you in the world of synthwave with MCP’s psychedelic film clip ‘VantaBlack’
One of 2020’s rare pleasant surprises arrived last month when Sydney’s MCP arrived with their first track ‘Dwam’. Perhaps the most mysterious three-piece we’ve ever come across, the progressive-electronic outfit have now surprised us yet again, tapping into Tron style magic with ‘VantaBlack’, a six-minute journey straight into space.
With its strong progressive, synth-waves, sample style vocals, and psychedelic seduction, MCP offer a sound like no other… and despite their clandestine identity, we just had to find out more.
Hey guys, thanks for chatting to Forte! First up can you introduce MCP to our readers and talk us through your intro to music?
Firstly, big thanks to the team at Forte for allowing us to introduce the music we make, and can I say, from one weirdo to another, were big fans of the mag! I guess the best way to intro MCP, would be to ask you, “what was your favourite movie as a kid?”
Back To The Future was, and still is, my favourite movie.
Excellent choice Matt, and by the way, by kid I mean… well you know, the age where you didn’t understand corporate greed, dirty politics or how fucked the oil companies are but we’re still old enough to know that girls had boobs, and that boobs might in fact be the most amazing things on planet earth. What age is that? Maybe it’s different for everyone. How about this then, the feeling of a pizza greased arcade machine, the feeling of putting rollerblades on for the first time and grabbing your hockey stick. We try and take that kind of hope and wonder and then combined with pure and utter darkness… oh and about 12 layers of analogue synth. I’m talking about 80’s darkness, Animatronics darkness. The kind of darkness that gave us movies like The Thing, Dark Crystal, Willow, Robocop. Fortress, that scene when the horse drowns in mud in the NEVER ENDING STORY, that shit was fucked up! That destroyed so many kid’s childhood.
In fact, I think this photo sums it up perfectly, and I guess that’s where MCP fits in, somewhere in the middle of all that.
Congrats on the blistering debut release ‘Dwam & VantaBlack’. Talk us through the process of pulling these tracks together?
We wanted our first releases to be two opposing themes. So ‘Dwam’ for me, showcases a bit more of the darker and disruptive sounds with strong bass overtones that we like the play around with, whereas ‘VantaBlack’ showcases a more progressive and psychedelic vibe with all hands on deck for synth, synth and more synth. Both songs were so different we thought it would be wise to release them at the same time.
Do you all collaborate on songwriting?
We were lucky enough to come up with the recipe for COVID songwriting about a years before working from home was an official staple. We’ve all been friends for a while and similar to saying a Point Guard is a floor general, we all know our role in this project and I think we play it well enough. Real drums, Real bass, Real synth. No CGI. Everything we live and breathe in the MCP Ethos The drummers represent our water, our sun, without his drum beats I’m just a lonely bass player, and that’s all I can tell you about the writing process, but if you like, come over to the studio in Redfern sometime and we can show you?
Word on the street is that you take a lot of inspirations from video games and 1980’s pop culture, and your music sounds like the perfect backdrop to a 19080’s sci fi thriller! Tell us a bit about the backstory to these tracks and what inspired them?
The streets are empty! Where did you hear this? Not just 80s, but all movies! Video games, comic books pre digital, Shit, maybe the golden axe theme song, or maybe the Michael Jackson Moonwalker game? Ha-ha, I’m just one person in this project, and clearly the biggest nerd in the group, no doubt the drummers blood runs deep with his love of Hip-hop, rock and jazz but seems to be constantly chasing unique and interesting drum beats and always pushing himself. and our resident Synth Lord is an analogue junkie, collector of synthesis.
The combination of electronic instrumentation blended with massive live drum sound is really powerful! How do you go about creating your music, tell us a bit about the process?
That’s the magic question right there. The endless search for the new sound. For us we like playing with themes and how they make you feel. Fake drums and natural drums bring out different feelings, so we like to use that as a contrast and showcase them at different times when necessary, similar to a scream in a metal song. Got to save the scream for the big bang at the end, that’s kind of our approach for natural drums.
Congrats on the official video launched for ‘VantaBlack’. Tell us about this. How long has it been in the works, and what kind of Tron style magic can we expect from it?
I’ve been telling my friends, “Get ready for the greatest $100 dollar blockbuster you’ve ever seen!” created and developed by Arron Millikin, who’s just quietly, my new hero, did this for mate’s rates. I gave him the song VantaBlack and over the past couple months we worked toward it. We used a couple samples for the moon landing. Both the reporter on the ground as the space shuttle takes flight, the famous news telecaster narration (Mr Cronkite) and three men in space (Neil and the gang). So, we made the entire concept a celebration of Space, time and infinite pleasure. Don’t judge to hard.
If you could collaborate with any other band artist or video game character, who would it be?
To be honest, it wouldn’t be a band or charter it would be a painter or some sort of design artist. Speak of which, our artworks for each song has actually been one of the most enjoyable parts of this project. Dwam was designed by our mate Jermey Lorde and he whipped up the most electric digital grid that just nailed our tone, and for Vantablack Sindy Sinn gave us a side of his artwork I had no idea was in him, in fact I got it printed and framed I liked it so much.
Each song we release, we like to pair with a different artwork. So, it’s been really exciting reaching out to different artist, just sending them a song, asking them “what was there fav movie as a kid”, and seeing how the song inspires the artwork. Each time we have received an artwork back, it’s been super interesting to see how they interpret the music. What’s that famous line Jody Foster said as she’s being sucked through the worm hole “they should have sent a poet”, I feel that way with our artwork, like a poet to paper, an artist to canvas. If I had to choose right now, I’d say, I’ve always been a fan of Patricia Piccinini’s work. If we could magically somehow get her to make us set pieces for a music video or design an artwork for a song, my god! Life complete.
Lastly, what’s one thing we don’t know, but should know, about MCP?
The Less you know about MCP as a group, the better! But we got two more tunes for yah coming later this year. Hope you like the saxophone!!!
We can’t go to blues gigs, so here’s how to get the gigs to come to you
I’m going to take this away from our recent climate of doom and gloom.
August is one of those months of change. We’re coming out of winter, the days are getting longer, so thinking about some more uplifting things is a seasonal thing to do.
August also marks the birthdays of some of the biggest names in blues music. Robert Cray, Magic Slim, Sam Collins, Percy Mayfield, Luther Allison, Curtis Jones, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Lester Young and Dinah Washington were all born in August.
Right now, you may well be thinking that I’ve left out (insert name here), and I probably have. I could keep listing names for the rest of this piece, and I’ll still be leaving some out, and you’d be bored witless at just having a shopping list of names.
Or would you?
A shopping list is not such a bad thing, and while at present, it’s hard to get out to the gigs, you can get the gigs to come to you.
OK, some shopping tips…
First up, check your favourite musicians, especially the local ones you are missing. Many musicians are taking the opportunity (hah!) given by having no gigs to get back into recording.
Second, get into the social media sites, good places for keeping tabs on what’s coming soon and what’s out now. These days, it’s more recordings than gigs, and that’s what we’re looking for.
Just scrolling down the Geelong Blues Family Facebook group has some names flashing past. Dean Kruger has some demos and tracks he is working up. Charlie Bedford, Melinda Traves, Slyde Back, Blue Sunday are all on there as well.
Over to the Melbourne Blues Family, Michael Charles has put the music from his recent sessions together as a downloadable album. Moses Jones & Love in Vain has a socially distanced live recording.
40 Thieves have a new album, “Recorded, arranged and produced… Lock down style” and available on Bandcamp.
Don’t miss Matt Dwyer’s videos showing how different performers used and modified chords in their songs, and Chris Turner has a link to a new YouTube video combining stills from concerts with footage recorded at home.
Those home videos give a whole new insight into the glamour of a music life. Doonas used for acoustic dampening, I’m sure the bass player didn’t have that many empty stubbies behind him when the video started…
This is a time you can be more than a passive consumer. If you are impressed by a particular track, tell them, if you’d like to see it move in a different way, tell them. Don’t bag, be positive. A few years ago, Mihirangi (now back in New Zealand) actually organised selected fans into a production panel. She sent around drafts and invited comments on how to develop them. It was great to get a CD at then end and think, “I remember when we decided on that sound.”
If you’re a musician, check out Ben Wicks’ video on getting some merch together “with no money down.”
So this time round, a bit of a different spin on what’s happening in the local blues, and more widely.
Here are the local legends nominated for the annual Geelong Business Excellence Awards
Each year the Geelong Business Excellence awards brings together some of the most creative, innovative and thriving businesses that have achieved business excellence in the Geelong region, along with a great number of dedicated local heroes who support Geelong and it’s tight-knit and loyal community – and what a community it is!
These Awards are the oldest continuously running business awards programs in Australia, and, as such, provide a significant recognition and celebration of business achievement and performance.
While this year will be one that we will never forget for unfortunate reasons, what’s come out of the trials we have had to endure is how our community can face the worst of circumstances and still emerge with hope for a better future. And what better example of that than to recognise some of the businesses, Young Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in the Geelong region, many of whom have risen to the challenge of surviving through the COVID-19 crisis, and others who have been setting up the foundations to thrive when time allows.
While the usual awards night cannot go ahead, these local legends will be celebrated via a free virtual presentation evening planned to go ahead in October.
The finalists in the 2020 Geelong Business Excellence Awards are:
Event Kit
100 Hitchcock
18th Amendment Bar
Adventure Park
Arthur St Digital
Be More Mindful
Bellarine Community Health
BlueLab
Boomaroo Nurseries
Botanicals by Luxe
Braille Sign Supplies
CentreStage Pty Ltd
Circa 1902
CPAP Australia Geelong
Crew Face Make Up
Custom Neon
Drive Safe Service Centre
Employers Mutual Limited (EML)
Farm Foods Australia
FLAIM Systems Pty Ltd
Focal Point Dark Room Gallery
Fortitude Legal
Geelong Arts Centre
Geelong Gallery
Grand Slam Physiotherapy
Harper’s Bathroom
Heal & Soul Podiatry and Fair-Go Access Support Services
Home Instead Senior Care Geelong
Humans in Geelong Inc
Huntress Hair
Kardinia International College
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust
Kazworks Pty Ltd
Kinsfolk Farm
Lard Ass
Lord’s Design Menswear
Manse Group
Memphis Hire pty ltd
Murrell Group
Mustang & Co
Myers Street Dental Clinic
Pawtastic Paws Dog Training
Pixeld
Plan Group Geelong Pty Ltd
Scaada Group
Sea All Dolphin Swims
South Western Alliance
Sugar Images
Surf Coast Physiotherapy & Pilates
The Pivotonian Cinema
Viet Rolls
Vitality Laser & Skin Clinic
Your’e Gorgeous Hair & Beauty
And the finalists for the Young Entrepreneur award:
David Greenwood
Bec Connolly
James Murphy
Cameron O’Keefe
Business Leader
Brian Cook
John Preston
Grant Boyd
Joel McGuinness
You can register to attend the online event on October 15 here.
Local business Honey Source is buzzing away with a new ‘honey wine’
For the past two years, Honey Source has been Geelong’s go-to for all things honey and beekeeping. Not only do they sell 100% local Victorian honey and beeswax products, but they also offer full hive health checks, re-queening services and general hive maintenance.
Now, owner Sam Lamanna-Lilley has taken on the challenge to ferment his honey into an alcoholic beverage – better known as mead. Say what?!
So, you might be wondering, ‘what the heck is mead’? I sure hadn’t heard of it before, but it sounds absolutely delicious if you’re a sucker for a sweeter alcohol. Sam shares with us all the gooey details.
“Mead is likened to wine, but instead of using sugar (like traditional wines) Three Horn Brewing ferment honey to create the mead (honey wine). Mead, unlike wine, comes in an almost endless variable of flavours and varying sweetness. [We] use all-natural flavours derived from the very fruits, spices and honey we use. Time to age aids to stabilise our mead, we do not add the chemicals and preservatives one would typically find in almost every wine you’ve ever bought. They are also part of the dreaded hang over,” says Sam.
Natural alcohol and less of a hangover? Well, you can count me in.
The aforementioned Three Horn Brewing was created by Sam and his two best friends of over 20 years.
“Together over the last 12 months we have been developing our recipes and systems with our end goal being the gold standard of Australian mead making, and perhaps even the world!” shares Sam.
Unlike many other businesses in the pandemic, Honey Source has continued to thrive this year, even though beekeeping is seasonal, and weather is a contributing factor when the honey is produced.
“We were very lucky in a sense… part of the way the business was structured was direct selling online via our website, Facebook and Instagram. Honey Source has seen a massive influx of orders as we’ve been using this time to reach out and find our customers who never knew we existed. As our way of thanking all our loyal and new customers, giving them all free delivery in the Geelong region was the least we could do and establishing scheduled delivery days allocated each week – Monday’s and Thursday’s.”
“One of the hardest things we deal with in Australia as I’m sure everyone would agree with, is the intense summer heat. If we’re not careful, this can result in our hives melting down (when the inside temperature becomes too hot, the beeswax will actually melt),” explains Sam.
“All sounds bleak right? Not all hope is lost! It’s through time and experience we manage to survive each and every year, providing a food source for our hard-little workers, and a ‘Honey Source’ for ourselves and our customers all year round.”
Sam also has exciting plans post-lockdown to extend his honey knowledge to the greater community.
“We are desperately waiting for the restrictions to ease – getting back to classrooms to teach the Geelong children about bees. We are also helping to create a marketplace (Ebay for bees if you will) so new beekeepers will not have to struggle to source their own bees to help create their own “Honey Source”. We are also looking to create an event for chefs, students and producers to get together. Bringing them all together I feel will strengthen the respective industries and really showcase what our beautiful region has to offer,” says Sam.
And if you’re feeling like alcohol isn’t quite enough, Sam has been tinkering away with jewellery and knives to eventually add to the Honey Source product line. These will all be handmade by the very Sam himself.
Such busy bees! What can’t they do?!
Check it all out online here.
The National Wool Museum has launched a series of free online fashion courses and craft tutorials
Did you know that Australia is the second-highest consumer of clothing worldwide per year? Or that across the globe we dispose of one garbage truck’s worth of clothing every second?
These were some of the questions that the biennial We the Makers Design Festival asked exhibition-goers through their online exhibition exploring fashion’s sustainable future. Running online until November, the festival sees 21 emerging and professional designers from around the world create clothing that’s not just aesthetically beautiful or useful, but is also ethically produced, guided by the theme ‘Design for the Future: Sustainable and Ethical Textiles and Fashion’.
Amidst the success of the designer showcase so far, the National Wool Museum has introduced ‘We The Makers Create’, a new digital experience spawned from the success of the Designer Showcase.
Building on the core foundations of We The Makers – celebrating creativity and ingenuity in sustainable and ethical fashion design – the ‘We The Makers Create’ provides a platform for artists and craftspeople to share their skills and inspire others to start making through a range of free online fashion courses.
From courses in mending garments to refashioning a T-shirt, the detailed step-by-step guides can help anyone within the community build technical skills and confidence to experiment with sustainable fashion concepts – not just professional fashion designers and makers.
The first course will see Ruth Woods from Craft School Oz guide audiences through a range of creative mending techniques. Designed to help creatives give their clothes longevity and a touch of personality, this free course will teach the skills to mend and patch for both functionality and style.
“Creative Mending is all about helping your clothes last a bit longer. It shows several mending techniques to help you do this. You can have fun with patches, mending that dreaded crotch repair that no-one wants to mention,” Ruth explains.
“It’s quite an expansive course and I think there is something there for everyone. One funny thing was a call out to my friends for items that needed mending – I had no shortage of donations.”
With a long history in design, from training as a clothing designer to running a business manufacturing clothing for women and children, studying visual arts and adult education, to teaching a Creative Business course at TAFE, Ruth draws on a wealth of experience and knowledge to present beneficial and insightful creative programs with the learner in mind.
“In my workshops, I like to encourage people to experiment and try things out. Not to get hung up about being precise and perfect,” Ruth explains of the workshop.
“It’s about the process, enjoyment, relaxing and giving it a go, chilling out especially in these current times. I hope people take away some new skills and the ability not to judge their own work and to explore some new projects they might not have done before.”
Filmed and edited by her videographer son, Ruth adds that the greatest part about participating in an online course is that you can watch them over and over again, emphasising the opportunity to go at your own pace.
“If you don’t quite understand something you can watch it again, it’s like a reference book,” she says.
“I also encourage people to email me questions if there is something they don’t understand. And this also gives me ideas for additional things that can be included.”
Not only encouraging creatives to make, mend, refashion and re-purpose from home, but the fashion courses also inspire reflection on the challenges to our health, communities and economies, alongside a new perspective to our fast lives and fast fashion. One where we can be slower, thrifty and creative with how we consume fashion.
The other course currently available is with Designer Showcase finalist, Ana Fernanda Covarrubias, who will make you fall in love with your old t-shirts again, reducing your fashion waste and diversify your wardrobe. Future course releases over the coming months will cover ideas such as refreshing old garments and making jewellery from waste.
Within We The Makers Create platform, you’ll also find a range of short videos and tutorials from local artists, makers and custodians of cultural arts. Giving viewers an insight into techniques and crafts they may not have seen before, the videos introduce new skills and ideas to try at home, from fabric gift wrapping to Iraqi embroidery and Karen weaving. One of the videos we would recommend checking out is the one with Regional Victorian Artist and maker, Megan Anderson, who guides you through the steps to make a simple three-layered face mask with ties.
There’s also a dedicated section just for the mini makers, aimed at encouraging kids and families to get creative using yarn. You’ll find guides on how to create pom-poms, woven clouds, finger-knitting, and woven rainbows, as well as StoryCraft videos to combine fun craft activities and stories.
Pulling it all together, the platform includes a public gallery for everyone to explore and share their creations. Emerging artists can even promote themselves by adding links to their websites and social media accounts. Everyone can be inspired by the breadth of ideas and skills.
Whether you’re needing a heavy injection of creative inspiration or you’re just looking to learn a new skill, We The Makers Create is here to remind you that all of us can be makers, and it’s one way we can engage in sustainable practices.
Visit www.wethemakerscreate.com.au/
Recognising the impact of the pandemic on artists and the broader community, all content in the website is available free through support from the National Wool Museum and the City of Greater Geelong.
The We the Makers Design festival is also still available to view online until November 22.
Isolation may have stopped live gigs, but our local musicians are embracing a new side of creativity
For Victorians, COVID-19 hasn’t been treating us that well with stage 3 and 4 lockdowns taking place across the state (probably an understatement!). Musicians definitely don’t have it easy at the moment – no live gigs, festivals or release launches.
Ugh, we’re crying too.
So, we wanted to give a selected few of our awesome, emerging locals some love on the music front who have shared their stories in isolation with us.
VIDEO PREMIERE: Geelong’s Bones and Jones reveal infectious, guitar-driven new single ‘Reckless’
It’s a damn shame that the title ‘Boyz II Men’ was already copyrighted in the 1980s because truthfully, it’s the perfect title for Bones and Jones’ newest single ‘Reckless.’
With ciggies in their mouth and a clear growth of iso facial hair, it’s pretty evident that Bones’ are no longer boys and they truly have the sound to prove it.
Straying away from their earlier stylings of Blues/Folk, ‘Reckless’ is a hazy and distorted rockabilly affair showing a much heavier side of the group.
I’m not saying it’s Pantera heavy, but it’s the kind of ‘guitar-driven rock’ that pub crowds have always admired; a far stretch from their previous Fleet Foxes-esque sound.
With Jasper Jolley (the groups usual lead vocalist) assisting with the rhythm sections in the song, it’s Finn Chappell donning the mic, as we have seen before with hits such as ‘Tookems’. It’s truly a credit to the band to have so many members with pristine singing voices all giving a different sound to the songs that they perform.
The biggest difference to the group’s sound is found in George Wilson, the band’s newest addition whose use of a lap steel guitar provides an incredible woozy twang to the song’s feel.
Fuelled by intricate fills and a riff that will get stuck in your head, ‘Reckless’ may well be my favourite Bones’ song yet, and all you have to do is search the band name on the Forte website to see that I’ve been a fan for quite a while.
‘Reckless’ marks the third single off the group’s upcoming third album, Ginger Gold (Farm Singles), which is set for release February 24th 2021.
The songs and the video for ‘Reckless’ were recorded at an old apple orchard farm in Wallington where members of the band reside with members of Beans, The Murlocs and Bin.
“Soon after writing Reckless we played it at party in the barn where the video was shot, So Willem (the videographer) agreed it would be a great place to shoot the vid. We wanted a visual representation of why we love playing together so much – to be in our own little world when we play together, rather than focusing on the everyday life,” Bones and Jones reveal.
The collection of songs, all recorded during Victoria’s first isolation has been dubbed ‘Farm Singles’ and will be released in two’s at the end of each month; the finished result being ‘Ginger Gold’, a record compiling the released singles.
I guess now we have something exciting to look forward to each month in this absolute mess of a year. For now though, enjoy ‘Reckless’ below.
It’s officially been 30 years since ‘Round The Twist’ first broadcast in Australia
Have you ever, ever felt this old?
Any kid who grew up in the 90s probably remembers watching Round The Twist as part of their regular TV routine.
It was the heralded Australian adolescent TV show that celebrated classic Aussie upbringings and wasn’t afraid to push the boundaries of broadcasting… and this month, the fantasy program celebrates 30 years since first being broadcast in Australia in August 1990.
Spanning 52 episodes across four seasons over 11 years, the show followed the story of three children and their widowed father who live in a lighthouse in the fictional coastal town of Port Niranda, adapted from the writing of beloved Aussie author Paul Jennings.
With an opening theme song that has become a time-honoured nostalgic gem, there were more weird moments in Round The Twist than not, but that’s how it stood out from the crowd. The weirdities were often subtle but so effective, igniting short circuits of laughter that stemmed from its unfathomably. The kids were gross and little Bronson could never tame his imagination. His character in itself encapsulated the imaginative child growing up in a peculiar neighbourhood.
Over the last 30 years, it’s rare you ever see a re-run of Round The Twist on TV but thanks to some legend at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF), you can now watch full-length episodes of Round The Twist on YouTube, via their Twisted Lunchbox YouTube channel.
There’s literally days’ worth of binge-watching fun to be had with the Twist gang, their haunted lighthouse, The Viking Book of Love, and magic undies… the show really had it all.
Dive into season 1, episode 1 here:
Check out the rest of the episodes here.
Torquay’s home of pho is coming to Geelong
Often coined a winter dish (the perfect comfort food in the midst of a chilly winter night), for reasons that remain elusive, a bowl of pho is undeniably refreshing in the summer.
Is it the homeostasis caused by the inevitable sweating? The magical mix of root vegetables and spices in the broth? Or, the cool, crisp garnishes on top? The real answer is probably all of the above, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter why.
A perfect summer food, the Vietnamese soup varies wildly from venue to venue, with variables such as stock, noodle consistency and accompaniments influencing every choice but in the end it all comes down to the slurp. And that’s the slurp from the pho that’s front of you right now… and for us, that’s at Pholklore.
The key takeaways
- The loved Torquay Vietnamese restaurant is opening a second location
- Geelong locals will be able to indulge in some of the best pho in the region
- It’s due to be open early 2021
Keep up with the latest food news via our website.
Pholklore has made its home down in the cool coastal town of Torquay for the last few years. Situated next door to Bomboras, this place overflows with chill ocean-side vibes, lots of people and of course, delicious Vietnamese street food… and it looks like it’s bringing all that (minus the ocean) to Geelong.
In a post shared to social media today, the restaurant posted photos of a leased sign, construction site, and a shipping container at the top end of Pakington Street, with a caption that simply read “We’ve been busy during lockdown…. #comingsoon”
Due to be open by Christmas (hopefully), we don’t know much more, but we can only assume we’ll be treated to the same pleasures Torquay have been indulging in these past few years.
Some of our favourite meals from the venue that we’re hoping to see include the Pho Bo – a rare beef and brisket rice noodle soup that hits the spot any time of the day; the Bun Cha – a dish with popular dish with char-grilled pork patties, spring rolls, vermicelli noodles, mixed herbs and a tasty dipping sauce; and the Pho Fusion which is just a delicious melting pot of mixed cuisines. And the selection of Vietnamese rolls and pho-inspired cocktails best make an appearance.
Congratulations Pholklore, we’re looking forward to having you an arm’s length away. In the meantime, you can still order takeaway from the Torquay venue 7 days from 5pm. Call 03 5261 4270 to order.
Keep up to date with all the latest news via their socials.
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A new Jamaican-style café has just opened up on Pakington Street
Despite been six months since the coronavirus pandemic began, it hasn’t stopped some of this country’s passionate individuals from achieving their dreams, including Damian Rosevelt who has just opened up a new café on Geelong revered foodie strip, Pakington Street.
Titled Taste Jamaica, the eatery launched recently after months in the works, adding a bounty of new flavours to the local foodie scene.
Offering Jamaican-style meals, alongside the sweetest of treats and Jamaica Blue Mountain Blend coffee, this contemporary café is bringing the Caribbean to you, with flavours transporting you to the lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches of Jamaica.
Serving takeaway and dine-in, you can fill up on hearty meals like Jerk Chicken, Jerk Port and a goat curry, fried Plantain and soup of the day, or keep it light with a selection of scrolls and cakes. We’ve got our eyes on the traditional Jamaican rum cake, expertly created by their Jamaican pastry chef. Pair it with a cup of coffee direct from the Caribbean nation, and you’ll be dreaming of island escapes in no time.
Within the modest space, the café boasts a slick, less-is-more design. To the left of the timber counter, you’ll also find a collection of hot sauces, Caribbean tea blends, Jamaican Ackee (their national dish), and Aloe Vera drink for you to browse while waiting for your takeaway treats.
Before opening a permanent space, you may have spied the brand at events across the region and all over Australia, serving traditional chicken, jerk pork, fine beer and Caribbean food products beneath a pop-up marquee. However, due to the pandemic, this business model was unable to continue, forcing Damian to adapt and bring his dreams of a café to life.
In a time where seeing the rest of the world is simply impossible, this new venture offers an escape to the island of Jamaica, complete with mouth-watering jerk chicken and pork – just the way it should be.
You can find Taste Jamaica at 6/112 Pakington Street, Geelong West.