Book Club For Drunks is a monthly event which sees participants enjoying the drinks of (and discuss) classic books. The first edition, Catcher in the Rye, saw attendees enjoying Tom Collinses.

An interview with Katie Lockhart for Pulp 64.

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“… Juliette Hogan confidently indulged in an ultra-feminine dress-up fantasy, offering a range of flirty dresses, snappy pants, and softly ruffled skirts. As she said, it’s all “So Pretty it Hurts.”"

“Must have items? An epaulette adorned bodysuit for the girls, and an oversized, intricately knitted blush pink cardigan for the boys. Hot dang.”

“…including a Dynasty inspired show-stopper: a red full-length number that would have sent Alexis Carrington wild.”

“Salasai’s winter 2010 collection saw designer Kirscha Whitcher presenting Blu Colla Lovers. And indeed, there was a fistful of collars and some gorgeous blue shades to be seen.”

“This time around Sylvester drew on an unusual local source of inspiration – black lipped 1980s Auckland socialite, Judith Baragwanath. Baragwanath regularly garnered gossip column inches as a rich girl from Remuera known for her exploits and punk style – mixing high and low with ease.”

“Emerging from the depths of Brixton as La Roux, 20-year-old Elly Jackson – supported by producer Ben Langmaid – is the newest electro-popette in town. Having heard Skream’s excellent Let’s Get Ravey remix of ‘In For The Kill’ thrashed in the clubs, I was curious to listen La Roux’s self titled album in its virgin state.”

The record kicks off with a roar and a Korg. Stand out tracks include ‘Tigerlily’- featuring a homage to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ (beautifully enunciated by Jackson’s dad); and ‘Bulletproof’ – sassy pop punctuated by a vocoder breakdown. Hooky melodies are littered throughout the album, however some of the later tracks falter lyrically with weak rhymes like ‘Fascination’ (sensation) and ‘Reflections Are Protection’.

Comparisons to Annie Lennox and Victoria Hesketh’s Little Boots project have been tossed around; but I found La Roux more in line with the synth sensibilities of Ladyhawke, with lashings of Lily Allen’s no-love-lost attitude. In particular, the slower ballad ‘Armour Love’ could be mistaken for Allen – no surprises then, that Jackson supported Lils on her recent UK tour.

The album ends with a pulsing bonus track, ‘Growing Pains’. For someone so fresh, Jackson may have a few; but with prominent billings on the festival circuit and that striking orange quiff, she’s headed for success.”

Copywriting. Over the years I’ve written many engaging, playful conversation starters for pedestrians in Britomart. They were featured on hoardings as this downtown shopping precinct was rejuvenated.

Auckland? When you think of it as a region, more than a city, you start to get a handle on what it’s got.
It’s like a cluster of islands, each with its own story – giving you all sorts of choices. It’s about having access to a harbour playground, choosing to work in the city, living in a rainforest… or all of those things. In Auckland everything is only a stone’s throw away. Having that kind of choice is pretty rare, the ability to balance your life to suit you…
…The power behind all of this is a real cultural mix, giving Auckland that rhythm that all great places need. It feels international and local, it’s alive.”