The Bombay Royale @ Howler.

The Bombay Royale have a residency at the Howler bar in Brunswick every Wednesday night during December, and attending one of their weekly gigs is a must!!

Not only because they're musical and theatrical geniuses, or because they are one of the most whimsical, wonderful bands out, (not even for the great beers Howler has on tap) but because The Bombay Royale give their audience freedom and the permission to dance and move, indirectly through their music. They are able to create this non-judgemental, euphoric atmosphere that is not always present at a bar on a weeknight and you need to experience that. 

One of my favourite bands at one of my favourite bars. 

 -Alessandra 

Get Tickets

*Mosaik does not take credit for any of the images used in this article 

La Onda De Elia y Elizabeth.

Elia y Elizabeth (Elia and Elizabeth) were a Columbian sister duo in the 1970s. The music of the two sisters were reordered with a well known music arranger in Latin America Jimmy Salcedo. The sounds of Elia y Elizabeth were quite underrated and hidden from the pop music history of Latin America in the 1970s. Their sound is a unique combination of soft 70's pop with Latin American folk. Their album and recordings are historic of representing the possibilities and discovering of the recording studio. The duo compile beautiful and fine melodies, in corporation with Spanish lyrics which are inspired by the idea of youthful thinking, expressing mysteries of life, love, nature and their country, their recordings lay a historic ground into the exploration of music and sound in their time.

I found the duo on Sound Cloud as I was fishing though a profile and without any background knowledge on the artists, the sounds soon made me feel as if I was in a summery place looking over bushland with a view of the ocean.  This was soothing to me, enabling me to escape for a while from the cold bitter weather that Melbourne is currently experiencing. The soft voices of both Elia and Elizabeth are so harmonious and combine beautifully with the music, holding together a moment in time and the sounds of classic pop in the 1970s.

Although I am not fluent or really know much Spanish, from translating the lyrics I grew fond of the historical aspect that is brought together when you read or listen to their songs. The lyrics definitely do stand their place in time, and tell us of a view of Spain's cultural and social aspects from a youthful and somewhat juvenile perspective. For instance, their song Descripcion meaning Description is a true perspective of a teenage girl's imagination in lust and adoration for someone. Drawing their lyrics back to describing the landscape and scenery of Colombia they use this scenery to portray the beauty they see in a certain loved one or significant other. Conjuring the love and passion for a person and their land, insight into a perspective of a young girl growing up in 1970's Latin America is found. 

Overall their  album La Onda De Elia y Elizabeth is great to listen to in the car, at a park, by the beach, at home, anywhere calm really, and is definitely worth a listen to so you can form your own interpretations and feelings towards where the recording of Elia y Elizabeth can take you. 

You can listen to the La Onda De Elia y Elizabeth in full on Spotify

-Isabella 

Movie Review-vie: Amy.

I was introduced to jazz and the soulful music of artists like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone when I was pretty young. Their music was so raw, so sad, and yet there was a satire and wit to it. I felt it summed up all the contradictions of life; I loved it and it  has remained my favourite genre of music. Inevitably one day I stumbled upon the music of the tragically talented Amy Winehouse. I was pretty young when Amy Winehouse died, her death didn't really effect me at the time, I didn't know much about her other then her music. She was just a girl with really big hair, thick, feline eyeliner, tattoos and a substance addiction which she died from in 2011, becoming a member of the 27 club alongside other legends of music that also died at the harrowing age of 27 like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison. 

When Asif Kapadia's documentary Amy was released this year I was interested to go, mainly to learn more about the woman behind the heartbreaking lyrics and haunting vocals I loved so much. I invited Beth along to the movie without telling her anything about it, but when she found out what we were about to see she was less then enthusiastic and a combination of her hesitation and an empty theatre did make me a little skeptical. However, five minutes into the movie I began to relax as Beth whispered "I'm already loving this." and I was too. 

The documentary was a retrospective caught through archived videos of Amy's life in the years before her death. The footage was extremely intense and upsetting as it was so fittingly accompanied by Amy's autobiographical lyrics that narrate her tragic demise. It is no question that Amy was a lyrical genius and an incredible vocalist and perhaps the depth of her talent was only scathed in her short life. We shared in her joys and felt the heavy grief of her sorrow.

As the credits rolled I let myself sob before I turned to see how Beth was feeling, she was silent and before she could talk her chin started to quiver and she was crying too. We left the cinema emotionally exhausted and disillusioned. We talked about it all the way home and all through the next day. 

We had never been this affected by a movie.

Our thoughts on the film were best reflected by Russell Brand, a comedian, author, actor, a friend of Amy's and a recovering drug addict himself, who filmed a video discussing the movie on his Youtube channel in which he pointed out that the true sadness lies within the fact that "there is something about deaths from addiction that feel preventable" and in this film about Amy Winehouse we as an audience are "forced to confront her youth, her talent, her beauty, her vulnerability" and the shameless way so many people took advantage of those facets. 

The film is truly sad, and sadly true and definitely one of the best films I have seen for a while. 

-Alessandra 

*Mosaik does not take credit for the photos used in this article

Groovin' The Moo 2015: A Short Girl's Perspective.

With my watermelon gumboots, Gorman rain coat, denim overalls and reflective sunglasses, I was ready for Groovin’ the Moo 2015. GTM would have to be my favourite festival out! There is always such an awesome and diverse line up, that just keeps you coming back. In saying that, I still failed to listen to half the lineup in the lead up, like always, and found myself listening Beyoncé the week before, because of this dude. And unlike most festivals, you don’t have to run a marathon to get to the next stage.

When you are 5' 1”, there is a whole world you are missing out on at a festival. So I thought I would  “enlighten” everyone on what a GTM experience is is like for us 5 foot nothing people. All you see is shoulders, necks and heads and 9 times out of 10, you will be stuck standing behind the tallest person in the mosh pit. Even when you get passed this said tall person, you are still surrounded by other remotely tall people. The air you breath ain’t the freshest scent you have smelt and people assume that because you are short, you don’t need as much personal space as everyone else. News flash: we DO! You finally strike gold when you find a perfect gap between people’s heads, to catch a glimpse at the artist you are there to see. But you constantly have to keeping darting your head to maintain this view.

So here is a little insight as to what my views looked like on the day:

The gods were on my side, when a kind gentleman offered to hoist me onto his shoulders during DMA’s. And my, was I opened up to a whole new world. I had a uninterrupted view of the stage, fresh air, the freedom to move my arms around and show of my fresh outfit. So wherever you are kind sir, thank you!

But it dawned on me, later in the day, what festivals are truly about. It’s not about “seeing” your favourite act, it’s about experiencing what their live music has to offer. When you look back on all your festival experiences, you don’t remember what the artist looked like; you remember the feeling they gave you when the bass dropped or the joy of screaming your favourite lyrics at the top of your lungs. It’s the moments when you and your friends are dancing like a bunch of lunatics or when you are all quiet because you are silencing your grumbling stomachs. It still blows my mind how music can bring thousands of people together in one place, to create an awesome and electrifying experience.

With that said, the highlights of my day included: the awesome Bendigo weather (no rain or feeling like we were going to get frost bite), trap dancing to A$AP Ferg, grooving to Sticky Fingers and Hermitude and ending the night with both the sets of RL Grime and Flight Facilities, and then finding $20 on the floor while we were leaving!

Lowlights included: San Cisco not playing “Rocket Ship”, dirt covering every inch of my skin and no reception (what’s new?!) and those nasty tasting nachos I got.

But you gotta love festivals. Until next year Bendigo.

- Sarah 

Spoon Returns to Melbourne.

Spoon had not been to Australia since Groovin' The Moo 2010 and their performance at The Forum Theatre on February marked their second show of three in Australia. While my dad and I were lining up waiting to be let in to the gig, we were discussing Spoon and their success. He said to me;

 “Spoon is the best band that Melbourne doesn’t know about” and I couldn’t have agreed with him more.

For the many who don’t know Spoon; they are a five piece Indie/Pop/Alternative band hailing from Austin, Texas. Two of their most recognisable songs for our generation would have to be; “The Way We Get By” featured in Season 1 of The O.C, and “The Underdog”, from the infamous scene in 17 Again where Zac Efron steps out of his Audi and puts on THAT leather jacket (swoon).

The night began with their support act, Deep Sea Arcade, who set the mood for the evening. Their Psychedelic – Indie/Rock sound got the crowd going, loosening them up ready for Spoon. Everyone really got around them when they played their hit “Girls”, with most of the crowd shouting it out until they actually played it.

I had been waiting for Spoon's performance since I first started listening to their album Ga Ga Ga Ga, and when they came on, it was musical heaven to my ears. They had no fancy backdrop clips, just themselves, their instruments and some awesome lighting to set the mood. They opened with the first track off their latest album, "Rent I Pay" and closed with my two favourites "You Got Yr. CherryBomb" and "The Underdog". 

Everything else in between was simply magic. They had the crowd bopping their heads, tapping their feet, shaking their hips and playing their air drums and air guitars, to their undeniably catchy songs all night. Despite the technical difficulties and mishaps, they still managed to create a concert that did not disappoint. They have now left me listening to their recorded tracks feeling like there is something missing.

For my sake, you should all go check out my favourite album of their’s, Ga Ga Ga Ga and their latest album They Want My Soul, you won’t be disappointed.

- S.P

Photography by Charles Morley

Photography by Charles Morley

*Mosaik does not take credit for any images used in this article

'Tis the festival season!

Summer. 'tis the season for festivals, camping and celebrating good music, art and the new year. After going to both Meredith and being a part of the Lorne leg of Falls, I feel that it is necessary to detail exactly what should be brought along to future camping festivals.

1. Selfie stick

Simply a must. Essential, really. How else are you going to take a #selfie in a way that disrupts as many patrons as possible? The Selfie stick is ideal for this purpose, being able to extend to 46 inches and hit other festival goers in the face as you wave it around. Excellent.

2. Phones

It's not truly camping unless you are constantly relaying every event back to your friends via 4G and Snapchat. Bonus points for sharing your drunken shenanigans as boisterously as possible while the headline acts are playing. Definitely the time for it.

3. Glitter

Put it everywhere. No, really. You have not truly been to a festival until you and everything you own, from your boyfriend to your tent are still covered in the magic shiny dust for days afterwards. Will these hands ever be clean? (No. No they won't)

4. Foghorns, whistles and the like

Many people view camping at festivals as a challenge. They see that they will be living in very close vicinity with a few thousand other people who share their taste in music and their willingness to brave the elements for the sake of A Good Time. Some may think "I can meet so many new and awesome people!" Others laugh at these types of thinkers. Not that their laughter can be heard. It's being drowned out by the foghorn they're blowing in your face at 3am.

5. Clothes

Who checks the forecast these days? Why should I? I'm going to a festival by the beach in an Australian Summer. Now is the time for crochet knit crop tops, singlets, shorts and thongs. Definitely thongs. I want my feet to be able to breathe when I'm surrounded by 16,000 other people in a mosh. Nothing can go wrong.

Forget the tarps, tents and baby wipes that others will tell you are essential. This is truly the only list you need for your camping festival preparations.

- T

  

 

For me, summer and festivals go hand in hand, but the Byron Bay Falls Festival was like no other. It was an experience of many firsts; my first camping festival, my first time road tripping through Victoria and New South Wales and seeing the sights and scenery our beautiful country has to offer.

The festival itself was located at North Byron Parklands, which is 660 acres of parkland. Hills and valleys and luscious foliage greeted us each time we entered the festival area. And every night at the Valley Stage, the thousands of people gathered to watch each act amazed me. I felt so infinitely small in such a sea of people.

The lead up to our New Years first was Salt ‘N’ Pepa, who I was so excited for and surprisingly sounded awesome 20 years after making it big. But we brought in the New Year with Alison Wonderland and a sprinkling of rain (that later turned to an absolute down pour), which was so refreshing after a long day of being in the sun.

Being an absolute shortie, I am not much of a mosher, because all I can see is sweaty heads and backs. But I joined my friends to mosh twice, for Run the Jewels and Joey Bada$$, and hands down there were two highlights of the festival. I knew barely any of their songs (shocking considering I call myself a hip hop fan) but we made it to the first couple of rows in the mosh and they were insane. Literally, sweaty bodies everywhere, but there was such a buzz.

Tkay Maidza was another act I was super excited for, and she killed it! I dare say she sounded so much better live as a result of the atmosphere she had created within the crowd.

Out of the dance acts, Empire of the Sun did not disappoint and Glass Animals were such an awesome chill act during the day. Vance Joy and the Kite String Tangle made the morning sessions, that much more bearable and soothing after minimal sleep. However, the crowd went nuts, when Vance Joy performed both Riptide and Mess is Mine and the energy surrounding just lifted.

The Temper Trap were great as always, so many great hits and they always perform with such high energy. Then we finished the end of our 3 day festival with watching Alt-J, who again performed with an awesome energy and the crowd soaked up every moment!

Despite the constant sweating, hours of freeway driving and stench of the drop toilets, I would do Byron Bay Falls Festival again in a heartbeat. It was an awesome way to finish 2014 and bring in the 2015 with a bang.

P.S If you ever have the opportunity, always get crazy face paint done at a festival; it will not disappoint

- S.P

Paloma Faith

I have been very careful not to pick a favourite artist or musician until now. I have a diverse preference in music. I can listen to a Childish Gambino followed by Sam Smith ,followed by Etta James, followed by Angus and Julia Stone , followed by Kanye, followed by Lana Del Rey, followed by Lorde, followed by Billie Holiday. It doesn't bother me as long as its good music. 

However, just at the start of this year I came to the realisation of what my favourite type of music is, and I call it "Contemporary Artists Emulating 40's and 50's Rhythm and Blues With Lots of Soul and Some 80's Beats and Disco Rhythms." I have always loved the rhythm and blues of the 40's and 50's, however I love it even more when contemporary artists can make me feel nostalgic for that era in music, an era I never got to experience and neither did they. 

The first album that made me feel this was Rudimental's Home. I can listen to that CD from start to finish without skipping over any songs. Amy Winehouse's raspy voice, Adele's heartbreak and Justin Timberlake's seductive tracks also fit in somewhere but none of them really hit the type I was looking for. And then a couple of weeks ago I found Paloma Faith. (I'm a late bloomer)

Sure, I had heard her song Only Love Can Hurt Like This a million and one times on the radio but it wasn't until I heard her featuring on Sigma's song Changing that I realised how truly unique she was. Yes, she is constantly compared to Amy Winehouse, Adele and Duffy but there is something greatly and strangely different about her.

Her latest album A Perfect Contradiction is the third studio album of her career and it feels as though Faith is still finding her sound. She has just scathed her potential and now she is exploring it. And it sounds so, so, good. The first song on the album Can't Rely On You was written by Faith and Pharrell Williams (who also produced it) and damn! It sets the tone. After each song you are left anticipating her next move. Nothing is boring or overdone, each song is so different and yet so familiar.

Faith makes you fall in love with her, she seduces you, she pushes and pulls you and then she leaves you wanting more. 

-A 

*Mosaik does not take credit for any images used in this article