While MasterChef Australia is heating up, Julia Jenkins is hard at work trying to get the edge over her fellow contestants. Julia takes a hard earned break and chats with Two Flat Whites. She is obsessed with food, and it wasn’t until she was in her late teens, Julia confesses that she was an extremely fussy eater and could never have imagined herself becoming a cook. The race to the finals is only week’s away, check out more right here.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

I grew up in Perth, Western Australia but moved to Melbourne almost two years ago.

In your own words, what did you do before MasterChef Australia?

Before Masterchef I was working as a Marketing Assistant at a cinema company. It was a great job and a fantastic company, but ultimately it wasn’t where I wanted to be. Basically, it wasn’t food.

How did you become involved with MasterChef Australia & was it a lengthy process?

I resigned from my job at the beginning of the year and was in the thick of deciding what I wanted to do with my life and how I wanted to get into the food industry when I heard whispers that Masterchef was coming to Australia. I applied, managed to get through the lengthy audition process, and the Top 50 week, and here I am. I don’t think I ever expected to even get the first call back, let alone get through to the finals!

What has inspired you to become a chef?

I adore food. I love cooking it, reading about it, tasting it, eating it, cooking it, and talking about it. I have met so many passionate and knowledgeable people in the industry and they have really inspired me to follow this path.

(more…)

Award winning singer and songwriter Kate Ceberano gets comfortable to talk with Two Flat Whites. One of the great voices this country has produced, Kate has teamed up with multiple ARIA award winner and Grammy Award winner Mark Isham to create her first jazz album in 20 years. An album that could only be aptly titled, ‘Bittersweet’.

With five Platinum albums, four Gold albums and over 1 million albums sold in Australia alone, Kate Ceberano has performed countless sell-out tours, starred in acclaimed feature films and hosted her own television show Kate & Friends. Kate’s bittersweet musical journey is set to continue. So grab a warm beverage and enjoy the interview.

Where did you grow up?

Melbourne

You live in Melbourne – what do you love most about that now?

I always love Melbourne this time of year. The turning of the leaves and the early dark nights. It reminds me of warm kitchens after school, tram rides home through Hawthorn, Kew and Balwyn and the smell of rain. I also love the city and the drama of Southbank counterpointed with the Botanical Gardens.

In your own words, what do you do?

I am a performing artist.

Where did you learn your craft?

On the road, in pubs, small theatres, cafes and bars. Later, concert halls, arenas and film studios. It has never ceased to inspire me and thrill me the learning part of my craft. Each new skill challenge or obstacle has been a red flag. I never ever think that I know it all. The contrary, I always approach new experiences knowing nothing… more fun this way. Open heart, Open mind…

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – Bewitched

Hobby – tap dancing

Food – grandma’s chicken and banana cake

Fear – being left out

People –teenage girls in gangs have always made me wary

Defining moment – the first harmony I ever heard

(more…)

Our friends at 3CR interviewed writer and director Sarah Watt in her new Australian film ‘My Year Without Sex’. Starring Matt Day and Sacha Horler, if you are looking for a laugh, the humour is wry and infectious.

‘My Year Without Sex’ comes out in Australian cinemas on the 28th of May. How are preparations going in the lead up to release? Is anticipation building?

Yeah, I think so. We had some preview screenings this weekend. So, people are starting to see it, which is very exciting – and nerve wracking!

I happened to catch one of those preview screenings and I’m happy to report that there was a lot of laughter in the cinema – at all the right parts.

That’s good! That’s very good.

The title of the film came from the fact that you didn’t want to direct another sex scene – why is that the case?

It came out of a joke about directing sex scenes. I think they’re very hard to do well. Often, they’re done really badly. It’s hard not to be clichéd so; I didn’t want to try, because I don’t think I’m a good enough director. But then, how do you make a film without a sex scene in it? You just call it, ‘My Year Without Sex’! So, it was kind of a joke at the start but in the end it worked really well with the content and the themes that I wanted to explore about consumerism and anxiety and all those things. Sex kind of belongs in there.

(more…)

The Dungog Film Festival is an annual 4-day festival held in the cosy northern NSW town of Dungog – in the Hunter Valley region.  It screens only Australian movies (both unreleased and classics), and puts an emphasis on bringing the film-maker and the film-goer together.  As the festival is about to launch into its 3rd year (28th May to 31st May 2009), Two Flat Whites had a chat to festival director and co-founder, Allanah Zitserman.

First of all, the whole concept of the Dungog Film Festival (DFF) is just so un-pretentious and refreshing. The relaxed and welcoming vibe you guys have created feels very Australian, was this exactly how you and Stavros Kazantzidis (co-founder of the DFF) envisioned it to be? How did this idea come about?

Yes, this was the basis of our original vision for the event. Stavros and I came at it from two key perspectives; the filmmaker and the Aussie filmgoer. We thought about what would we want from an Australian film festival and four key things sprung to mind. One was that we wanted an event that was non-competitive, stripped of any rivalry. We felt that just having the opportunity to be a part of the local film industry was a prize in itself. We also felt that in order to move into the future of cinema we needed a context of our past and that was the reason for showcasing films from the past and including established filmmakers in the program. We wanted an event outside of the hustle and bustle in a friendly relaxed environment. Finally we wanted to put the focus on the dynamic and diverse and extremely valuable Australian film industry. With these four ingredients we hoped that we would create a completely original event that helped bridge the gap between filmmakers and filmgoers and at the same time bring the film community closer together.

It sounds like the entire population of Dungog embraces the festival with open arms. In fact, with only 50 actual tourist beds in the town, the people of Dungog offer cheap accommodation for visitors, in their own homes.  Shop-keepers adorn their window-fronts with Australian film-themed displays.  Cinema has always had the potential to create a feeling of unity amongst a community.  Do you feel the giant multiplex cinemas so prevalent today have taken away some of that purity, or magic?

We are very lucky to have such a great community to work with in Dungog and their commitment and involvement in the festival has been part of what makes it so unique.  There is something magical about going to a community cinema, whereas multiplexes provide a very different experience for cinemagoers. I think that each has a place in today’s society but there’s no doubt that with community cinemas there is an intimate feeling like you’re going to a friends place to watch a film which is refreshing.

Whilst the DFF seems to be all about relaxing and watching movies in a picturesque country town, it is also a great opportunity for film-makers to build some hype on their unreleased films. The buzz surrounding the screening of ‘The Jammed’ at last year’s festival went a long way to securing national distribution for the film. What has this meant for the level of interest you now receive from film-makers, as well as distributors?

The festival is set up for helping build a healthier local industry. It aims to connect screen industry practitioners and give films looking for distribution a platform to be discovered.  Dungog achieves significant national coverage and can be very useful in assisting distributors with their release strategies. Last year Unfinished Sky was included in 85% of national coverage achieved for the event. This contributed to the film becoming the second highest Australian-produced box office earner of 2008. The level of interest from filmmakers that don’t have distribution has increased but the distributors are still playing it safe choosing city based festivals over Dungog. I believe this will change as the festival matures.

Speaking of distribution, I read that you and Stavros started your own film distribution company, the Australian Film Syndicate (AFS), as a result of the growing success of the DFF. The AFS handled the distribution for the recent Australian film ‘The Combination’. The film was only screened in specific suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne – areas in which you felt people would be interested to see the film. This is quite an original strategy. Do you feel that it worked well for ‘The Combination’, and will this be a strategy the AFS will use into the future?

The strategy for The Combination was very effective. The film was the Number 1 earner against US product at the NSW sites it was playing in its first few weeks.  We believe that each film requires a very unique strategy that makes sense to reaching its desired audience. AFS is not interested in formula distribution it carefully constructs its release strategies specifically to the target audiences.

It’s no secret that the relationship between the Australian film industry and the general Australian population isn’t very healthy. Over the last 10 years, just 4% of Australia’s box office revenue has come from Australian films.  Do you see a positive future for our film industry?

There’s no denying it has been a pretty bad few years for the Aussie film industry. I do believe that things are changing and we are already seeing that with the strength of the work being released in 2009. I also am encouraged about the marketing focus being made by Screen Australia. I’ve always felt part of the issue is the fragmentation within the local community.  Part of the reason Stavros and I decided to start the festival was to help build bonds within the film community. Encouraging dialogue, making real connections and being honest with each other will help us inspire each other creatively and together we will find ways to help build a healthier industry.

Final question – what were some your personal highlights of last year’s festival, and what are you most excited about for this year?

The opening night with Unfinished Sky was a real winner as was the NSW Mining’s party on Saturday Night — people are still talking about it.  The whole program this year is super exciting. I can’t wait for audiences to sink their teeth into it.

Dungog is located 228 km north of Sydney – 3 hours by car or train.  You can find all ticketing, accommodation and festival program information on the official Dungog Film Festival website.  We hope to see you there!

Interview by Ryan Nance.

Warwick Thornton loves the nervousness and adrenaline in putting together a film. Warwick has won a number of awards including Best Emerging Talent; he also won Best Short Film at the 2007 Inside Film (IF) awards in Queensland as well as the 2008 Best Short Film award at the prestigious Berlin International Film festival for his short film ‘Nana’. Warwick Thornton is currently preparing for his first feature film to hit the big screen, Samson and Delilah which features in cinemas around the country on the 7th May 2009.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

Alice Springs

In your own words, what do you do?

Work to fill my fridge.

Where did you learn your craft?

On the job at CAAMA in Alice Springs. Then studied Cinematography at AFTRS in Sydney.

Who inspires you?

Inspiring people.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – Captain Harlock, Astro Boy

Hobby – Moto cross desert racing

Food – Soya chicken

Fear – High places. Low places.

People – Drunks & dope heads.

Defining moment – Realising I can do whatever the fuck I want.

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Chore: Evil teachers
Cherish: Angel teachers

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

Coober Pedy

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

Get up, have a coffee, take my daughter to school. Work a bit, make lunch, wander ‘round. Work a bit more, sometimes. Pick my daughter up from school.

You seem to have a passion in making movies about your community & sharing this on the big screen. What messages do you want people to digest?

No messages – just that we all belong on the same planet and should look out for each other.

Love is the most important thing. And survival. It was really important in Samson & Delilah that they survived through their love for each other and that they saved themselves and solved their own problems.

Who are your favourite film personalities? And is there anyone we should keep a look out for in Australia?

I don’t really have favourite film personalities. The little girl in My Year Without Sex is pretty cool.

Where can people see your work?

In cinemas from May 7th – Samson & Delilah.

For love or money?

I love money.

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Breath, eat, drink.

Shooting and directing a doco series Art & Soul about Aboriginal art with Hetti Perkins.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Alive, happy, older.

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

My wife Beck, daughter Luka and producer Kath and all their split personalities.

Coffee or Tea?

Bushells Leaf Tea, two white sugars and powdered milk.

You can also check out our film reviews written by two of our young writers.

Samson & Delilah – Film Review by Hayley Van Es

Samson & Delilah – Film Review by Ryan Nance

Two Flat Whites recently had the pleasure in interviewing fashion identity Cathryn Wills who is the Creative Director at Mimco. Cathryn started her fashion career at Benetton working the retail floor, then moved to JAG Australia, before heading back to school, to study fashion design at RMIT. Upon graduating, Cathryn was employed by Country Road in the knitwear team, eventually becoming Design Manager for the category. She then worked as a freelance designer for several businesses.

It was at Mimco where Cathryn Wills found her niche, starting her career with the brand as a freelance knitwear designer in 2004, and working with the founder and former owner, Amanda Briskin. After nearly 5 years with the business, Cathryn is now the Creative Director, overseeing design, visual merchandising and marketing directives. With a love for the world of creativity in all its forms, Cathryn believes that the approach to design should be innovative and spirited – always with the aim to surprise and inspire.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, upstate New York, back to Melbourne…..now in the Docklands.

In your own words, what do you do?

Have ideas, write stories, draw pictures, manage a team, critique & refine designs with the team, work on all creative aspects of what the Mimco brand says to the general population from store design through to product.

Where did you learn your craft?

On the job, over the years from a multitude of people, and formally at RMIT doing a 3 year degree in fashion design.

Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?

Art, fashion styling & writing speak louder to me than fashion design on its own.  Del Kathryn Barton, Samantha Everton, Carrie Chau….   The editorial genius & styling of Numero, Another Magazine & Purple Magazine.  People on streets everywhere, with special mention going to downtown Shibuya.

What inspires you to create?

The pleasure of having ideas, collaborating with creative minds in the team & seeing all of these concepts manifest in a tangible ‘thing’ is very rewarding – and each time, making it better.

Tell us about your speaking opportunity this May with Fashion Palette?

Fashion Palette approached me to speak about Mimco & my experiences that bought me to this point.  The premise of speaking to an audience of students & burgeoning designers was appealing to me, as it’s a forum that supports new, young talent.  I think it’s important we nurture ideas & creativity – there’s too much homogenization out there!

What can we expect in fashion this winter?

We’re all about the mix of an Uptown Viking & a Shambolic Princess this season at Mimco.  Tribal references of fringing, studding, scarification inspired laser cutting, water creature shapes such as swans & mermaids – clash with an old manner house, eccentric mood of crystals, pearls, tweed, patent & glazed leathers.

What advice can you give to an aspiring young fashion designer?

Be proactive about your path – decide where you want to be & work towards that goal.  Work hard, listen, watch, and learn.  Go above & beyond the call of duty.  And learn to type & draw, best two things I did for my career!

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – Countdown

Hobby – drawing & roller-skating

Food – Carvel Ice cream cakes for birthdays

Fear –   The Dark….still not my favourite thing

People – Mum, Dad & my 3 sisters

Defining moment – Moving to New York, being forced to come out of my shell…there is no escape in American schools!?

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

Byron Bay

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

A multitude of things, all of which occur in the Mimco office…meetings, range presentations, more meetings, store visits, research, thinking, running, ranting, raving.

For love or money?

Love….but money always helps with the shoe collection.

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Lots of creative projects at Mimco….and if I can get some balance into my life, then a warm blooded pet, as fish are not doing it for me any more.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Poolside, doing my business remotely.

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

Plato, my dad Stafford Wills, Picasso..…all no longer in the land of the living, we’d talk mathematics, philosophy & art and how they’re all connected.  Well, they’d talk, I’d listen.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee with rice milk.

As the last of fashion week models stomp down the runway on 1st May 2009, the inaugural Fashion Palette Event will open its doors to the public at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, running from the 1st to 2nd May 2009. Cathryn Wills will be one of the guest speakers, don’t miss this great event, buy your tickets right here.

Two Flat Whites caught up with Academy Award winner Adam Elliot. Adam has won an AFI award for his Short Animated Film ‘Uncle’. He also won his Academy Award in 2003 for his Animated Short Film, ‘Harvie Krumpet’. Adam’s films have participated in over 500 film festivals and they have won over one hundred awards. You can catch his new film ‘Mary & Max’ which he directed at cinemas from the 9th April 2009.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

After 5 years on a prawn farm in outback South Australia we moved to the suburb of Mount Waverley in Melbourne. But now I hang my hat in Windsor.

In your own words, what do you do?

I tell stories……and never let the truth get in the way.

Where did you learn your craft?

My kindergarten teacher, my Art teacher Graham Bennett at Haileybury College, Sarah Watt and Robert Stephenson at the VCA and all the wonderful lecturers at the Brighton Bay Art and Design School.

Who inspires you?

My pugs, Barry & Kevin.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – The Muppet Show
Hobby – Drawing & making things out of egg cartons & pipe cleaners
Food – Lolly gobble bliss bombs & sweetened condensed milk
Fear – The Werewolf from the film The American Werewolf in London
People – The Two Ronnies & Dame Edna
Defining moment – When my friend Brett Krueger told me there was no such thing as Santa.

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Cherished.

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

The Pinewood Independent Cinema in Mt Waverley where I went every Saturday as a child.

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

Immersing myself in all things Plasticine.

Who are your favourite film personalities? And is there anyone we should keep a look out for in Australia?

Jan Swankmayer, surrealist stop-motion genius in Czechoslovakia. In Australia, our Mary and Max cinematographer Gerald Thompson, also a brilliant writer.

Where can people see your work?

Check newspapers for details! – In cinemas April 9.

For love or money?

Depends how drunk I am

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

Finishing drawing my kids book. So far it’s taken me 15 years!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Raising pugs on a farm in Daylesford

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

Barry Humphries, Michael Leunig & Marcel Marceau – to ask their thoughts on iphones.

Coffee or Tea?

Earl Grey.

Two Flat Whites caught up with actress Clare Bowen. Clare recently starred in the feature film ‘’The Combination’ which explores the lives of Lebanese youths and their struggle with violence, racism and social identity. Clare was a shining light starring along side George Basha and guided extremely well by David Field in his first film as a director.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

I grew up all over the place. My parents both worked for Qantas when I was little, and so smuggled me along with them most of the time. Childhood was spent between overseas, Sydney where I went to school, and down the South coast of NSW, Stanwell Park, which was home. I’ve moved further down the coast since and now live on the Minnamurra River.

Tell us a bit about your latest movie – The Combination?

Well, it seems to have caught people’s attention for a few different reasons! It’s not a timid film. It’s a love story about honour, family, the choices you have to make, and the reality of consequence. David Field and George Basha portray a beautiful facet of the culture in Sydney’s Western Suburbs that a lot of people don’t get to see, but they don’t shy away from showing the audience how rough life can get, just because of the colour of your skin. David unearthed a group of very talented individuals to play the boys – some of whom are first time actors! They brought a beautifully unique dimension to the film.

What inspired you to become involved with The Combination?

Inspired? Well I nearly expired when I got a call from David Field offering me the role of Sydney! Couldn’t believe it, rang him and John Pirrie back twice to make sure they weren’t pulling my leg. It was just the type of thing that happens to other people. I never imagined that I’d have the opportunity to work with such an exceptional group of people as the cast and crew of The Combination.

I had a lot of fun playing Sydney. She’s not a typical fatalist – she’s awkward, flawed, occasionally ignorant, but at the same time very forward thinking and independent. She’s comfortable in her own skin, but an obvious black sheep in her family. Sort of like a puzzle piece that doesn’t quite fit. Displaced, not so unlike the Lebanese characters in the film, who get called Aussie in one environment, and Wog in another. I can only hope I did her justice. David Field gave me the opportunity of a lifetime when he offered her to me.

Tell us about the cast & crew. What was the vibe like on set?

Always exciting! It was my first time on a film set, but I didn’t even get the chance to be nervous because there were so many seasoned professionals around me like Toby Oliver, Doris Younane and David Field, who were so wonderfully generous with advice and guidance. The cast was hilarious, the crew was hard working but easy going, there was never, ever a negative vibe on set. Everyone hung out with everyone – very much like family, but without the crazy uncle no one talks about.

There were many themes including racism and violence. In your opinion, what were the major messages portrayed by the movie?

Because the film employs such realism, ultimately it’s left to the audience to make up their own minds about the story they’ve just been a part of. But the film shows the futility of violence, it throws the every day injustice of the real world right at your feet. The heartbreak and fury I’ve witnessed different audiences experience whilst watching some scenes in the film is indicative of a common understanding. The film’s moral standing is organic, like life – lots of grey areas.

(more…)

Two Flat Whites interviewed young musician Shea Fisher. Shea has a unique style fusing country with pop. A true country girl at heart, growing up claiming Australian Rodeo titles and spending days on the farm mustering cattle, Shea has the skills to handle herself in the music industry. We tip Shea to be the next big thing in Australian music. You may catch Shea in stores across Australia in the coming weeks in conjunction with her new album “Shea” being released on the 20th March 2009.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

I was born in Portland, Victoria. I lived there the first four years of my life. The next three years I travelled on the road with my parents Eddie and Jo Fisher (who were both Australian Rodeo Champions) competing in rodeos. When I started school we based ourselves on the Sunshine Coast in sunny Queensland. When I was ten years old my family moved to America so my dad could compete on the PBR World circuit Bull riding. I lived their for two years. When we returned home to Australia we based ourselves back on the Sunshine Coast. I now spend most of my time on a tour bus so I base myself all around Australia.

In your own words, what do you do?

I am just an everyday girl with a really cool job! I am a singer and am so lucky to be able to have the chance to live my dream and create music that can influence people’s lives. I write music that is relevant to people my own age I don’t sing about issues that don’t personally relate to me.

Where did you learn your craft?

I always loved being centre of attention as a little girl. I wanted to be the leading role in every school play and musical. After returning home from America where I had spent two years listening to as much country music as I could get my hands on I decided to start singing the National Anthem at rodeos. That was my first encounter with a big crowd and I loved it. I then entered a few talent quests and decided I wanted to be a country music singer. It has been a whirl wind ever since. I loved the feeling I got before walking into the arena or out on stage, it was such an adrenaline rush. I taught myself the guitar and studied lots of other artist to see what they did on stage and how they entertained a crowd.

Who inspired you?

I have so many musical influences and people who inspired me it’s hard to just name one. The first album I ever bought was Shania Twain when I was ten years old. She is such an incredible artist. I wanted to be just like Shania. I was her biggest fan.

You’re the daughter of Australian bull riding and bareback riding champion Eddie Fisher and barrel racing champion Joanne Fisher, what is it like having such famous parents?

To me they were just mum and dad I didn’t see them as being famous like other people did. With Mum and Dad being so successful at what they did it gave my family the chance to travel the world. In America dad was a house hold name. I use to love walking around with him after the rodeos as he signed autographs; some of his fans even gave me presents. It was every young girls dream.

You lived the true cowgirl life, mustering & branding cattle every week, claiming rodeo titles including a number of Australian titles, what was that like growing up?

A lot of hard work……….. anyone who works on the land or with horses and cattle knows it is hard work but it is so rewarding. No two days run the same. Most weekends we were in a different town at a different rodeo so you don’t get to do the regular sports and join team sports, although, I was never pushed to have to compete. I always just loved to do it.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – The Brady bunch… I loved that show as a kid! I knew the opening song off by heart.

Hobby – I had so many hobbies as I child. I loved competing in rodeos- Barrel Racing, I loved all sports, and I loved being centre of attention- being the lead role in school plays.

Food – I was a big fan of the little party pie you could buy at the school tuck shop and the jelly cups. Once a week I was allowed tuck-shop and that is what I would order every week!

Fear – I use to be scared of the dark, I think most children are though but I use to hate not being able to see what was around the corning waiting to jump out at you.

People – My Nana was a big part of my childhood. I use to make her sit down and watch me perform every time I saw her. She was so nice she would sit there for hours as I held my hair brush, sang as loud as I could and did silly little dances. She was an amazing person.

Defining moment – Winning my first ever Australian title when I was 9 years old and having the opportunity to travel the world with my parents. It taught me so much.

You bring a fresh approach to country music. How would you say your music has evolved since your first album, “Everyday Girl’?

I was 14 years old when I was writing songs for my first album “Everyday girl” so I think in 5 years not only have I grown as an artist but also as a girl. I think this album shows where I have come over the past couple of years. I have learnt a lot about myself and what sort of music I like to create. This new album has captured exactly who I am.

Tell us about your new single “Don’t Chase Me” & your current tour around country NSW?

This song is about a guy who insists on chasing a girl while he has other possible love interests on the back burner. The girl is simply stating; unless you want me, and only me, don’t bother chasing me, because I’m not going to be strung along in some sort of game. I love this song. I think it is fun and energetic, young and youthful. It also is very girl empowering! I like the line, “Don’t chase me unless you’re willing to catch me!”  The past month I have been out on the road promoting this new single. We have visited radio stations all over Australia including NSW. I have been to Sydney, Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Albury, Orange, Yass…. This list continues. I have also been doing lots of live shows. Last weekend I performed in Yass and Orange. I love performing; it is a real buzz to see people in the audience singing your songs word for word.

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

It is hard to just pick one beautiful place in Australia; every part of Australia is amazing. But I would have to say the Sunshine Coast…my home town. There is nothing like home. When you are out on the road so much it is nice to come home for a weekend. I love the Sunshine Coast. We have land and animals but are only 10 minutes from the main beaches at Maroochydore.

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?

It totally depends where I am. If I am on the road touring I never have the same day twice. If I am at home I get up in the morning, eat breakfast, go to the gym, feed my horses, write a song or two, have lunch, help out around the house, ride my horses, feed my horses (again), eat dinner go to bed etc. So basically when I am at home I live a normal life but when I am out on the road I have a very busy schedule! Sometimes I go to sleep on the tour bus in one state and wake up the next morning in a totally different state never knowing where I am.

Where can people see you perform?

I am doing a big national radio promo tour at the moment which means I am dropping into lots of radio stations doing interviews, so you can hear me on lots of radio stations. When the album is released March 20th I will be doing lots of in store signings. So you can check out my MySpace for any up and coming appearances I will be making.

For love or money?

I perform for love. I think if you don’t love what you do there is no reason doing it. Money can’t buy happiness but loving what you do can.

What future endeavours are in the pipeline?

My 2nd album is being released very soon March 20…very exciting and I have also just been signed to the USA Music Label Stroudavarious.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I set my goals high. I would love to have had the opportunity to travel the world with my music over the next 5 years and been able to break the American market. I believe anything is possible it just depends how hard you are willing to work for it and how much you believe in yourself.  You never know what could happen in the next 5 years, Dream big I say!

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

One-would be my best friend Sarah because I don’t get to see her very often any more so any chance to chat over coffee would be great.

Two- Shania Twain so I could ask her advice and find out what her journey has been like over the past 15 years. She is amazing and made a mark for herself in all music Genres.

Three would be Jessica Alba as I would love to know her secret for keeping her bodying looking so good.

Coffee or Tea?

Tea- I’m full of enough energy without drinking coffee.

Lang Leav has developed a new punk label, written & designed books & is an accomplished artist. Sydney based artist Lang Leav created the enchanting world of Akina. In 2005 Akina won the ‘Qantas Spirit of Youth Award’. This later inspired a documentary that aired international on the ABC in 2006. Lang has also exhibited her work through many galleries & sells her work throughout Australia & Japan.

Not too long ago, Lang Leav was awarded the prestigious $25,000 Winston Churchill fellowship to study the Harajuku Girls, an underground sub culture seeded in Tokyo where Lang heavily draws her inspiration. This new punk label that Lang has developed is really taking off. Lang has also just finished another book called ‘The Little Mermaid’. Two Flat Whites sits down with inspirational & creative Lang Leav.

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

I grew up in Cabramatta, West of Sydney and left for a few years before basing my studio back here.

In your own words, what do you do?

I tell stories and I try my hardest to get people to listen to them.  There is a lot of competition in the technology age, with so many different mediums to distract you.  But there is something very beautiful and magical about using the traditional methods of writing and drawing to tell a story.

Where did you learn your craft?

Most of what I learnt has been through instructional manuals. While growing up, I would often experiment (as I still do). In particular, I enjoy taking things apart and putting them back together. My parents were always nervous about leaving me alone with electrical equipment!

Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?

Tim Burton. His drawings have such character and convey his stories so well.  The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy is my favourite book.

What inspired you to create?

It’s a compulsion I have always had.  It is almost impossible to coax me out of my studio but I am grateful to anyone who puts in the effort to do so.  Occasionally I will emerge disorientated while I adjust to being back in the real world.

Tell us about your new book – The Little Mermaid?

On an ordinary page in my diary I had written, ‘Today I fell in love and the rest of the world will cease to exist’. For months afterwards, the following pages were completely blank. It was like I disappeared into a parallel world for those months. Now I have returned and this book is my way of filling in the blanks, of bringing the fantasy of my other world into my reality. It’s just something I had to do, to put an end to that chapter of my life and move onto new adventures.

You have developed a new punk label, you have written books & you are an accomplished artist – what do you enjoy the most?

I love the challenge of any creative project but my one greatest passion is telling stories through my books.  To be able to have the story in my head, have it flow out on to pages that I can sculpt into a vessel to place in the hands of another person, gives me so much joy.

Childhood Memories:

TV Show – The Storyteller. I bought the DVD a couple of years back and leant it to my friend on the night his place was robbed.  They didn’t take all that much but they took my DVD so they must have been fans of the show as well.

Hobby – Yoga, I’m getting really good!

Food – I love cooking, especially for others.  There is something very satisfying about it. I also love housework, is that weird?

Fear – I have a fear of being shot from a cannon.  It happens a lot in my dreams and I wake up screaming.

People – I have more imaginary friends than real ones. But the real ones are very, very special and dear to me.

Defining moment – There was this one moment when I was sitting on the floor of my room. I had just been fired from my first full time job and I felt like my career would go nowhere. Then my Dad handed me a note, he had written on a piece of paper. The note read, ‘When the hills and streams end and there seems no road beyond, amidst the shading willows and blooming flowers, another village appears’. Just months later, I was announced as the winner of the ‘Qantas Spirit of Youth Award’.

Schooling memories, chore or cherished?

Definitely cherished. It was a great place for me to try out my various business ideas. One of the more successful ones was when I managed to use some face paint to create very realistic looking injuries. They were great for getting people out of class. I built up a really great client base through word of mouth and learnt the all-important skill of how to network.

Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?

I would say the window of the first store to ever stock ‘Akina’ was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.

From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up to?

I have a really flexible schedule so I can be doing anything. Either making my deliveries, drawing, writing, playing Tetris, doing accounts, answering emails or roller-skating down at the beach.

Where can people see your work?

My website is the best place to start, as there is also a list of stores who sell my things. http://www.akina.com.au/ Also, I have created a little fraternity called The Secret Society of Button Fetishes for all the behind the scenes action. http://www.akina.com.au/subscribe.html

For love or money?

Love.

What future endeavors are in the pipeline?

I am doing fashion week this year – my first one!  I will also be exhibiting in Paris, the UK, Tokyo and the States. I met with the editors of Pie books in Japan (who are the largest publishers of design and art books in the country) and they are very interested in working with me on a project in the future. Several exciting collaborations with some of the most amazing artists across the world are underway. I am also working on my fourth limited edition book which I am so excited about.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself  being a bit of a gypsy, travelling to find inspiration in all the nooks and crannies of the world. Writing, drawing, dancing, telling stories and selling my wares.

If you could invite 3 people to chat over coffee, who would they be & why?

I met someone who would only read books by authors who have died.  It is an interesting concept so I will take a leaf out of his book and say:

Sir Winston Churchill – Since I was awarded a Churchill Fellowship, there have been many instances where I swear, he is communicating with me. For example, on my last day in Tokyo, I was walking down a street near my apartment. It is the same street I had walked down every day for the last eight weeks of my Fellowship. But on that particular day, I crossed the street a different way and behind the trees usually blocking it from view, was a restaurant building named Churchill. It felt like he was there, nodding his approval. I went home the next day and began to write what I have been told is one of the best Churchill reports ever written. You can download it here: http://www.akina.com.au/cosplaying_lolita_ds.pdf

Marie Antoinette - Because it would be the most decadent cup of coffee ever.

Piet Hein - His work has made logic comprehensible to me. This is quite important as I am utterly ridiculous and the newfound logic has served me well. Especially in a particularly tricky situation I found myself in once. But I will save that story for another time.

Coffee or Tea?

Strawberry milk.