It is of popular opinion that creativity is messy and I am one who definitely agrees. But there are times when that mess needs to get organised!

Leading Swedish stationary brand, kikki.K know just what to do to get your creative space organised and productivity ready with their in-store organisational workshops.

An Organised with kikki.K In Store workshop will teach you simple systems to use together with your organising tools, to get the best use from them and make them work better for you.

The two hour workshop includes a series of exercises and activities to share techniques and systems to help you create ‘paper flow’ in your life and eliminating your paper piles.

Founder Kristina Karlsson said that their solutions are simple to implement and easy to maintain, giving you better use of your time, talents and space so you have more time to focus on the things that are important to you. And not only are their solutions simple but they are very flexible and can be applied to anyone’s organising challenges.

“If your workspace is cluttered, difficult to use then it can cloud your creativity. The old saying is true: “untidy workspace, untidy mind.”

Karlsson sees being organised more than just ‘finding things quickly’ or ‘getting more done’. She believes it’s about improving the quality of our lives by saving time, freeing up energy for things that matter most, stimulating creativity and helping us feel good inside.

“Call it good feng shui or just common sense: if your home/office is organised, stylish and inspiring, your state of mind will be the same.

“Your workspace needs to be inspiring as well as function so at kikki.K we see the injection of colour can contribute to creating your own personal workspace in a number of important ways. Colour selection of your office and organising tools like folders, storage boxes and magazine holders as well as your desk accessories has the power to affect how you feel and function in your space.”

If you want to get some more time and energy back into your life, be freed up for things you would rather be doing then you should definitely go along. You will leave feeling inspired and excited to take on your organising challenges.

Each workshop can have 4-10 participants and you will be provided with snacks and drinks.

Participants will also receive 10% off kikki.K purchases for one week.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online, over the phone or in-store – bookings are essential.

Workshops are usually run once a month at various kikki.K boutiques.

Upcoming workshop dates for QLD and NSW/ACT are listed below; or visit the kikki.K website (http://www.kikki-k.com) and click on their GET ORGANISED section to view when there will be a workshop at your nearest store.

This year the Anywhere Theatre Festival has included some fun and fascinating theatre that have been local and international. One of them included Something Perfectly Innocent which was an interactive drama that took place over social media. We talked to the man behind the production, Marcus Lilley, after the conclusion of the five day performance and got all the insights on the performance.

CD: So tell us about yourself – who you are, where you’re from, what you do.

MARCUS: My name is Marcus Lilley and I am based in the South West of England, UK.  I am a theatre maker creating durational and immersive pieces of theatre that integrate social and mobile technologies such as Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook to tell narratives.  I also run a business in social media consultancy.  The two overlap really nicely so I can explore technologies such as Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest in creative ways to explore the interesting ways in which to use them and communicate with people.

CD: You’ve just finished your production for the Anywhere Theatre Festival, Something Perfectly Innocent. How did you think it went?

MARCUS: It went really well thank you, it was a really interesting experience to be curating a performance in England for an Australian audience who are nine hours ahead! The audience participation was fantastic and overall it was wonderful to create a performance which people can be involved with which was I what I really wanted to achieve from the outset.

CD: So why the Anywhere Theatre Festival?

MARCUS: I received a tweet from Paul Osuch (@thepaulosuch)  on Twitter in January 2012 about the festival and the reason that it was so appealing was the ‘anywhere’ concept.  I thought this was an extremely exciting idea because it seemed nothing was off limits in terms of scope or ideas which to an artist is wonderful because you can truly let your imagination run wild!

CD: Did you enjoy being a part of the Festival?

MARCUS: I have throughly enjoyed being part of the Festival, it has been a great opportunity to get experience of being part of a truly international Festival and get to see how other artists work.

CD: Tell us a bit about Something Perfectly Innocent. The idea, the formation, the character/s…

Brisbane Indesign returns in May for two event filled days in the Fortitude Valley and surrounding suburbs.

This year the design festival will be held on May 25-26 (Friday and Saturday) and will be showcasing over 150 of the best local and international design brands ranging from A-Z.

The biannual event is organised by Indesign Media Group for the Queensland design community. They have produced print and online media and events for design and architecture audiences, for over ten years.

Some of the major Exhibotors participating in 2012 are King Furniture, Chairbiz, Cosh Living and Mafi.

Attendees can expect to see world-class projects on display, showrooms being transformed by creative installations and be inspired by the insights of special guests.

This year for the first time ever, The Project will be a part of Brisbane Indesign, where local designers create unique installations, concepts, exhibitions or any other creative exploration. Designers will be reflecting the theme, Common Thread, exploring the fusion of creative industries and the links that tie them together.

Something to look forward to this year is a new James Street imitative, Up Late in Design.  The festival-style event will taking place during Brisbane Indesign and will be held on Thursday night, May 24.

Design hunters can see all the action in the James Street precinct. It will showcase the blending of fashion, interior design, architecture, culture, art, lighting, music, food and entertainment.

Public art installations, outdoor cafes and pop-up bars designed by collaborative creatives provide design professionals and consumers alike to engage with creativity, design and participating brands/retailers in the effervescent lifestyle hub.

Brisbane Indesign is the perfect place to build a professional network, whether you’re an established or starting out designer or architect.

And the best thing is it’s FREE for registered attendees! So with just over a month to go, make sure you visit the Brisbane Indesign website to register and secure your spot for this design-tastic event.

Visit their website,  http://www.brisbaneindesign.com.au, to preview the official event handbook for 2012.

Nestled in a labyrinth of streets, sits a cafe where one can wish upon magic blow balls and be carried away on a single piece of wood – Dandelion & Driftwood.

If you are a coffee or tea drinker that wants to be empowered in the artistic alchemy of excellence in brewing and tasting, then this is the space for you.

This quaint coffee shop and teahouse found in Hendra encompasses yesteryear elegance that pushes the boundaries between old and new; with fabric chairs, vintage pressed metal feature wall and old style bar lighting.

Owner Penny Wolff sees herself as a creative soul.

“Like caffeine, ‘being creative’ is a drug I can’t do without.”

She described the cafe space as inviting for all – a place where both males and females can come to feel equally comfortable.

“This cafe is no boys club, it is about men and women wanting to come to this cafe and share the magic, the simple pleasure of what is in the cup,” Penny said.

Dandelion & Driftwood was the first cafe in Brisbane to include a Brew Bar in their cafe with an über Cupper Boiler.

They offer a total of six different brewing styles and seven different coffee beans choices on a daily basis, with the two house blends being Dandelion and Driftwood.

“We offer not only espresso coffee (with a choice of two house blends and two single origins) but we offer five other brewing styles including – Chemex , Syphon, Aeropress, Yama Cold Drip, Trifecta,” Penny said.

Penny illustrated that the Dandelion blend focuses on the delicate fruitiness and brightness that is memorable and comforting; and the Driftwood blend provides a robust, earthy, risky, action hero experience that focuses on a complete mouth explosion.

But more than just being the house blends the name reflects the yin and yang of feminine and masculine.

“Dandelions characterises the yin of our concept the feminine touch, subtle softness, womanly ways, delicate notes, refined presence and ability to bloom.

“Driftwood characterises the yang of our concept the masculine, natural formation, sturdy, manly ways with rugged earthy links and an adventurous outlook.”

One of their cute features is the tagging of their coffee and tea with personalised cupping notes.

“It is about being completely transparent, sharing the knowledge and allowing the customer to make a valued judgement about what it is that they are after all consuming.

“We aim to widen customer’s palate experiences and encourage customers to explore options at a level that will vibrate with them.”

So next time you have the chance, venture over to this little place of bliss and just give in to the AAAAAHHHHHHHH……

If you missed the Queensland Ballet’s production of Alice in Wonderland do not to worry, because the Plaza Theatre Cafe invites you to the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

As a celebration and follow on from the Queensland Ballet’s witty and whimsical production during March/April, the Plaza Theatre will be hosting a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Sunday, 6 May.

The event will start at 2pm, so remember to set your pocket watches, and will include an orator and a special appearance from Alice herself!

The cafe is located inside the Paddington Antique Centre and offers a selection of tasty slices, cupcakes and sandwiches; all baked and prepared on the premises.

Costumes are encouraged, so feel free to dress up and break out your crazy hats and coat and tails.

Tickets are $30 and bookings are essential.

The Mad Hatter theme will be running for the month of May so if you’re looking for a high tea venue with a twist make sure you book it at the Plaza Theatre Cafe this month. It might even make for a fun and memorable Mother’s Day outing.

So take a trip down the rabbit hole, but most importantly – don’t be late for this very important date!

Here at CD we think theatres are so yesterday thanks to the Anywhere Theatre Festival.

The Brisbane based Anywhere Theatre Festival’s mission is to propel a world-wide trend for engaging and  passionate theatre outside of traditional theatre spaces.

The ten day festival runs from 10 May – 19 May in the Brisbane City, Ipswich and Logan Council limits.

Festival Director Paul Osuch said, “Story telling began as something we did around camp fires and over time it has been ghettoed inside traditional theatre venues and the structures that go with them.

“Anywhere Theatre Festival Limited’s mission is to brazenly strip away the elitism of ‘going to the theatre’ to reconnect audiences and communities with theatre, with storytelling and with performance… anywhere.”

It offers the framework and facilities for other theatre practitioners to create work by allowing them to leverage the festivals infrastructure, minimising the theatre hire and technical costs that prevent more theatre being produced.

Being a fringe festival at heart, means that the festival will include a wide range of national and international artists. You can expect cabaret & musical theatre, circus & physical theatre, comedy, dance, drama, interactive & multi-arts, poetry and things for youth/kids.

Some of the productions we can’t wait to see are: The Alleyway Project; ‘Merica; Babel London; Something Perfectly Innocent; Unspeakable Acts of Privacy; Where the Wild Roses Grow and the free lunchtime screenings at the State Library of Queensland.

So where is anywhere? Well basically any space other than a theatre; so parks, bars, alleys and even international spaces via online. The idea is to have theatre in other places, local places that are easier for you to get to.

And to get a taste for the Anywhere Theatre Festival make you sure taste the free Lunchtime Morsels during the festival at the Queen Street Mall.

Ticket prices vary but the expected average cost is $15. But there are also some free events.

Tickets can be purchased at the website, www.anywherefest.com, or at the event itself.

See you…anywhere!

British band Passenger is just finishing up their tour around Australia, promoting their new album All the Little Lights. On Friday we caught up with Mike Rosenberg before his Brisbane gig at the Hi-fi on Saturday night.

CD: So right now you’re touring around Australia, how has it been so far? Any special moments?

MIKE: Um yeah, it’s been brilliant. I mean to be honest I’ve done a few tours around Australia now. This one’s been cool because it’s with a full band instead of solo shows. And yeah, it’s kind of the biggest tour I’ve done her so far; so quite big rooms and all the gigs have been selling out and yeah it’s been…

CD: How do you find playing solo compared to in a band?

MIKE: It’s a really different thing, like I am so comfortable playing just on my own now. And you’ve got a freedom about it because you can kind of play whatever song pops into your head or whatever song people ask for and you can kind of go wherever the night takes you. And it can turn into a really unique experience. Where with a band it’s a bit more regimented you know cause it has to be a set list for everyone to know what’s going on. That being said it’s so fun to have other instruments and other musicians to interact with on stage. And I’m just really lucky that I’ve got a really brilliant band, really great players. Like this guy here [referring to Stu Larson]. To be honest I love mixing it up and doing both and giving people something different.

CD: I have seen you interact with the audience and getting them part of the show and stuff. I have seen that. I think that’s really cool.

MIKE: Yeah I think it’s important. Like when I go to a gig I wanna feel like part of it not just like I’m kind of looking in. I think the more inclusive you can be the better.

CD: So I guess that’s why you do busking and stuff. So can you tell me, what are the different emotions you feel when busking compared to performing at a venue?

MIKE: Yeah it’s a really different thing. I guess the main difference is that the people that are hopefully listening aren’t your crowd, aren’t people who know your music already or the majority of them won’t be. And so you’ve gotta kind of win them over which is a really good challenge. You know sometimes it can be hard work but more often than not it’s just a really fun thing to try and do. You know it really feels like you’re winning over new fans, not just playing to the same faces.

CD: Do you ever get scared that because your fans know that you busk they won’t buy tickets; they’ll just show up for the free busking?

MIKE: No, I think it’s a really good point and people have asked before but actually I think people really appreciate the fact that I go and play free gigs all the time. And yeah, yeah, if you haven’t got enough money to come and see a gig then you can go and see the busking. But I think as well; because I am an independent artist, I haven’t got a record label yet, people wanna support. You know it’s not that thing of ‘ah, great I can just go and see them for free and download his music illegally,’ you know? I think people feel a bit more; you know a part of it and want to support it. That’s really good, really nice.

CD: How do you choose your set list for each performance?

MIKE: Um, sometimes it’s sort of before the gig; I ask on Facebook and Twitter and stuff if people want to hear particular songs. It’s really good that way because that way they pick the set list. You know, your fans pick your set list, the songs that they wanna hear. And it kind of, as I was kind of saying before, it ensures that it’s a different gig to the last one. You know, I think it’s quite dangerous to play the same set over and over again.  Because; not just for the fans but for you as well. It’s just a bit like kind of falling into the same routines and patterns and…

CD: It’s more robotic than actually…

MIKE: Yeah and that’s the joy of live music; it’s that silly things happen and spontaneous things happen. And the more of that you can get on the night the better it is.

CD: So your new album is All the Little Lights, tell us about the meaning behind the name or the song.

MIKE: Yeah the song is about…it’s a bit of a weird concept but it’s sort of about how we’re born and we have a total open mind and heart towards planet earth and humans. And as we get older we become more cynical and more jaded about everything. I guess the metaphor is that, you know the lyrics are; we’re drawn with millions of lights shining and then every time something crap happens…not…put more poetically than that. But every time something bad happens one goes out until eventually they all do and then we all die, which is pretty miserable.

CD: So how many lights do you think you have in you?

MIKE: How many lights? At the moment I’ve got about eight hundred thousand and forty two…last time I checked. I check every sort of two or three weeks.

CD: Alright. That’s good. You’re going strong.

MIKE: Yeah no look, it’s good, it’s good. I try and do happy stuff to light them all up.

CD: Oh so you can light them back up?

MIKE: You can like them back up. Yeah, that’s the joy. You know, like kiss a pretty girl or something and one goes up.

CD: How’s this album different to the previous albums?

MIKE: Yeah it’s quite a different sound I think. My other records I’ve sort of sat in a room and done it live. And it’s very sort of, you know, this one kind of a more modern, slightly more produced sound. I just wanted to do something different I think. Kind of like the live sets, you’ve got to just change it up. You’ve got to challenge yourself in different ways. I tried to make it really sort of modern, right up folk record, you know. Not just sit in the room with a guitar and sing.

CD: Cause you had some strings in there as well, didn’t you?

MIKE: Strings and brass and…also a really subtle bits of electronica as well. So I think some of it worked really well. Some of it didn’t quite get there but that’s music you know. I think….I was talking to somebody the other day about it; making a record it’s just a series of thousands of decisions, you know. It not just you go in and you record and it’s obvious what to do and how to record it. Like every song, there’s so many different ways with it. I think you know you just go with your gut and some of it really works out and some of it doesn’t. You haven’t got all the time in the world. I haven’t got loads of money to throw at it. You just do what you can in that space of time and in that studio. And it gets to the point where you kind of just have to accept that it’s not going to be perfection

CD: Ok and you’re okay with that?

MIKE: Not really. But you have to be, don’t you? And I think that’s what keeps you striving towards and excited about the next record. And I wanna do this way and I wanna….and that’s cool. If you make perfect records you kind of turn into a bit of an idiot.

CD: The name, Passenger, is from the concept of someone watching the world go past, as if a passenger in a car, right? What were some of the “passenger moments” that went into making this album?

MIKE: Yeah, so I think the name kind of ties in with the observational style of writing. A lot of my songs are stories about characters whether they be real or people that we have met on the road. Or kind of slightly fictional as well, along with my own life experience.  Passenger moments in this record….yeah I guess a song like holes which is a track later in the album. Yeah it talks about, for example this guy I met in Bath, this homeless dude. And when I was busking he told me this story about when he wasn’t homeless, he was fine and he got caught in a fire and his house burnt down. And he was in hospital for about six weeks in a coma and all this kind of stuff. And yeah, that’s how he kind of ended up on the streets. It’s crazy, like a really crazy story. I don’t know just little things like that, I don’t know. You just hear little snippets of people’s lives just as you’re travelling about that kind of effect you.

CD: Well that’s really cool that you get to share other people’s stories as well.

MIKE: Yeah and I think that’s why people, hopefully why people relate to my music as well is that it is just about normal people it’s not about…it’s kind of…untouchable thing. You know, it’s about humans.

CD: Has anyone actually come up to you on purpose and said share my story in your song?

MIKE: A couple of people have asked me to write about certain things. And it’s just like, dude it doesn’t work like that. Something either affects you and you can’t just write about a sad thing because it’s sad.

CD: Yeah it’s got to be something special.

MIKE: Yeah it doesn’t have to be a big deal, you know. It can be the smallest of stories but if it catches your imagination it can kinda be [clicks tongue]

CD: I love the Things that stop you Dreaming video. Was that fun to make?

MIKE: Yeah it was. It was…we did it over a month of touring.

CD: It does seem a bit tedious.

MIKE: It was a little bit tedious at times cause it would have to be like; ok yeah it was just filming all the time. But worth it, you know. Jarrad, we got Jarrad Seng to film it. Amazing guy, he’s from WA. So yeah, it was really his patience because editing must have been an absolute nightmare.

CD: Well it was really awesome.

MIKE: Thanks

CD: What’s your favourite song from the album?

MIKE: I think Circles came out nicely. Just the way it was recorded and the sentiment behind it. You know it’s about a really good mate of mine back home. And we have been best friends forever since we were babies. And we’ve very different lives now and I only see him every so often. But it’s that thing of like once you’ve been through so much with someone, it doesn’t really matter if you go off on your own path but you’ve always got that like common ground.

CD: So kind of like the vector circles kind of thing?

MIKE: Yeah

CD: What are the three best words that describe the album?

MIKE: Tedious, egotistical and boring. Ah no that’s a bit…

CD: That’s a great promo right there.

MIKE: Yeah I do my best. Umm. Wow. Stu?

STU: Not those three words.

MIKE: No, No. Umm…lyrical, folky and slightly tongue and cheek. But its lots of words, sorry, a bit more than three.

CD: I’ll take that. Do you ever get writer’s block? How do you overcome it?

MIKE: All the time. You just don’t worry about it. Like, I write loads of songs so I’m…for the last few years I’ve been in the position where I’ve always had them up my sleeve which is a good position to be in.

CD: Yeah, you just keep turning them out.

MIKE: Yeah, yeah and it’s cool. I think it just keeps momentum going. I think…yeah, there are times when I write four songs in a week and there are times when I don’t write for four months and it’s just…you just kinda have to bear with it and not panic and you know and sometimes you think f*** I’ve lost it, I’m never going to write again, you know, it’s over. And generally when you start feeling like that it’s just around the corner. It’s just that backing yourself and not worrying about it.

CD: Just believing that it will come.

MIKE: Yeah, and I think it’s, you know….I’ve been writing for years and they keep on coming so you just have to have faith in it really.

CD: How do you stretch yourself in your music?

MIKE: So challenge it?

CD: Yeah, also challenge yourself.

MIKE: I think, you know, trying to work with as many different people as possible both writing and playing. Going to as many gigs and trying to keep your mind open as far as what you can achieve in music. Busking is a challenge and you know as I said, doing things with like a full band. Not just always taking the easy option. So yeah I think I need to challenge myself more as far as like, I always write with on the guitar. I never write with any other instruments.

CD: Do you play any other instruments?

MIKE: I kind of fumble about with piano and stuff. And that’s why I don’t write with it cause it would be rubbish. But maybe ah…I would love to one day like just put lyrics to music. Cause I write stupid arse lyrics, it would be fun to get somebody else’s musical landscape and then combine that.

CD: What is success in the music industry for you? So I’ve kind of given you examples: is it winning awards? Playing at major venues? Having one of your songs done on Glee?

MIKE: I think that’s the moment where you actually stop making music altogether.

CD: So not a fan?

MIKE: Uhh. Not really. I think umm…I don’t know man, like all of that stuff, yeah like obviously awards and playing big venues and stuff is great you know, and it kind of tells you you’re on the right track I guess. To be honest as long as you’re bloody happy with what you’re doing. I know a lot of famous and successful musicians are unhappy because they’re backed into corners by major labels and they’re misrepresented and they’re doing something that’s not quite right in what they want to be doing. So even if you’re making lots of money and your kind of landing big gigs it doesn’t necessary, I know it’s an old thing to say, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re happy.

CD: So are you happy?

MIKE: Yeah, for the majority of the time. I’ve got a lot of creative control and you know between me and my manager and Stu and a few others we kind of work things out together as far as where we wanna take it, where we’re gonna tour and you know all of these decisions are just with people I really trust. And I’m very much in control of it as well. I think when I’ve been unhappy within music is when I’ve felt out of control. And I’m constantly waiting on other people’s decisions and people I don’t necessarily trust to make the right decisions. That’s when it starts getting hard, you know and it’s your career in somebody else’s hands. And that’s dangerous.

CD: What is your favourite creative space in the whole world? Is there one specific to Brisbane or Australia?

MIKE: Australia, I really like Freemantle. Yeah it’s got a really nice sort of airy, light feel about it. You know the weathers always glorious; beaches are lovely and got some really nice mates over there. Yeah I tend to write quite a lot when I’m over there. It’s funny like cause I travel so much, I think that you just kind of have to find a creative space wherever you are, you know, if you can.

CD: We are a networking company for creative’s, so how important has networking been in your success in the music industry?

MIKE: Yeah pretty important. I don’t ever like to call it networking it feels a bit weird. But…yeah…look when I first started out, my dad’s kind of been in the arts and entertainment and he was kind of like saying you’ve really gotta network and meet people and blah-blah-blah. And I was like nah I don’t wanna do that, I don’t wanna….you know it’s not me and just wanna do my music. You’re sitting there and it’s not about like…it’s not even about getting a leg up a lot of the time, it’s just about feeling part of the community. You know what I mean? And talking to like minded people who are trying to do the same thing. You know whether that being music or art or photography or whatever. It’s just really good to hang out with creative people who are…who face the same struggles as you do. You know; how to make money out of doing something you love is the million dollar question. And yeah I think that’s more important than that whole thing of it’s who you know.

CD: What are some ways that young musicians can network today?

MIKE: Obviously online is massive – Facebook, twitter, whatever else is new that I don’t about. That’s really important. But yeah, I think the main thing is just to be yourself around people. Don’t go with an agenda, or even have certain things you want to, you know, hopefully achieve; its very transparent I think where people kind of turn up  and you know if you ever you know….it can be quite annoying I think.

CD: Like if they have an image they want to project kind of thing?

MIKE: Yeah and actually trying to get things out of other people, you know. I think just go and be yourself. And become friends with people naturally and opportunities will arise from that, you know. Does that make sense?

CD: Yeah, no it does; perfectly. I understand like the whole band forming was you meeting up with Andrew Phillips? Is that right?

MIKE: Yeah years ago, right.  We just became mates and it kind of just happened very organically and I think if anything really sticks in music it has to happen naturally. You know you can kind of stick stuff together but I think it misses a genuine bond then. It sort of falls apart eventually.

CD: So what’s next for you? Can we expect another collaborative album like Flight of the Crow?

MIKE: Maybe one day. Yeah, and I think the next record….I wanna get on it fairly soon, maybe July-ish. So hopefully it will be out by the end of the year, early next year.

CD: Christmas songs?

MIKE: Oh yeah exactly; Christmas with Passenger, that’s what we’re thinking. But…yeah just a lot more touring. Me and Stu are going to the UK in May and touring there and then tour the States. And then hopefully back here fairly soon. So yeah, constantly, constant touring…you know.

CD: Alright I might just finish off with some get to know you questions…

MIKE: Alright.

CD: Apart from the guitar what instrument are you most attracted to?

MIKE: Attracted. I think the cello is an attractive instrument….and the harp. Quite often there are quite attractive people playing those instruments as well. There are a lot of attractive cellists out there.

STU: It’s dangerous.

MIKE: Dangerous, yeah. I love how that’s your only input. “It’s dangerous.” Um yeah, I guess those two.

CD: Cool, so cello and the harp. Do you name your guitars? What are they?

MIKE: No I don’t. I’ve never named them.

STU: Boey

MIKE: Yeah, Boey.  I think if you name your guitars you probably start talking to them. You know and that’s a dangerous road to be on, isn’t it?

CD: You’re not crazy unless they talk back.

MIKE: Yeah, right, exactly. I haven’t named them as yet. I think they’re…I think I refer to her as a female. But she doesn’t have a name. That’s even more weird, isn’t it?

CD: Is she nice to you?

MIKE: She is. She’s very nice.

CD: Do you button your shirt upwards or downwards?

MIKE: From the top.

CD: So downwards?

MIKE: Yup

CD: Cool. I think that’s the way normal people do it.

MIKE: I think so. But there’s a way to not get muddled up isn’t there? Cause sometimes you’re like…aww woops.

CD: Yeah but you kind of get past that stage…

MIKE: When you’re five? Yeah, that’s true.

CD: What are the five most played songs on your iPod?

MIKE: Oh my god. I’d have no idea. Like I listen to a lot of old man music. Got some Neil Young and Paul Simon and James Taylor and stuff like that. So that and a bit more modern things like Stu Larson’s Ryeford, which you can pick up on iTunes.

CD: Nice plug-in.

MIKE: Yeah, don’t even worry about it.  Um..and yeah like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes and that sort of stuff.

CD: So what song gets stuck in your head the most?

MIKE: Probably Stu Larson’s San Francisco. Which has just been recently been put out on iTunes. It’s a really great song about travelling up the west coast of the states. Yeah it’s got a very catchy chorus. So if you’re into that sort of thing, check out Stu Larson’s San Francisco.

STU: Or maybe Toto.

MIKE: Or maybe Toto’s Africa. Yeah but enough people know that already

CD: Do you have a lucky charm?

MIKE: Um. No. I have a little mantra, a little song that I sing before I go busking; which is a bit weird. I guess it acts as a lucky charm.  But no I haven’t got anything physical.

CD: So what’s the song?

MIKE: Couldn’t tell you. Sorry. It’s a bit of a secret.

CD: OK. What is your best feature?

MIKE: Physically?

CD: Yeah physically or personality wise…

MIKE: I think my calves. I’ve got strong calves.

CD: I have heard that you think yourself as quite the athlete.

MIKE: I don’t know; that’s probably ironic. I’m not an athlete at all.  I’m a skinny weirdo.

CD: I would have thought you would have said your beard.

MIKE: Yeah I was joking about my calves. They’re pretty scrawny. I don’t know, yeah, beard. Beard. Beard is a strong… maybe beard. Yeah, the beard.

CD: Lastly since you’re quite the seasoned traveller, are you a scruncher or a folder?

MIKE: Look when I can be I’m a folder because it just saves time and patience but there are definitely times when I have to scrunch.

CD: Awesome. Well thank you. All the best with your show tomorrow and you’re going to be brilliant of course.

MIKE: I hope so. Thank you very much.

Make sure you grab a copy of the new album All the Little Lights on iTunes or at JB Hi-Fi so you can start lighting up your little lights.

Love fashion and blogging? Well then you’ll definitely know Susie Bubble (Lau) and you’ll definitely want to see her this Friday.

As part of their tour, Portable presents Susie Bubble in Brisbane at The Edge, State Library of Queensland in South Bank on April 27 (aka this Friday).

The London writer and editor is known for being a pioneer for fashion blogging when she started her blog Style Bubble in 2006. Today Susie is seen as one of the world’s leading fashion icons and writes as a freelancer for Elle, The Daily Rubbish and Dazed Digital.

With her expert knowledge in online publishing, she has helped major brands such as Prada, Dior and Top Shop with their online presence. Style Bubble itself is one of the most highly read fashion blogs on the web.

At the event, Susie will be exploring the current fashion landscape in 2012. This will include identifying how fashion designers and retail brands can position themselves internationally by working with online publishers, bloggers and social media channels to create genuine connections with audiences.

She will also share on her journey as a professional and industry blogger, discussing the challenges that online publishers face in creating an authentic voice and connecting with readers in the buzzing atmosphere of social media.

The night will also have a Q&A session followed by networking drinks after the event.

If you are a creative professional working in fashion, online publishing, sales, brand management, public relation and technology; then this is an event you do not want to miss.

Tickets are $95.

Make sure that you buy your ticket today, there are only 5 left.

Tickets can be purchased via this link – http://susiebubblebrisbane.eventbrite.com

To see who else is part of the Portable tour visit their website: www.portable.tv

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

And like me you probably thought ‘how in the world did they do that?’, so I did some Googling.

The company behind the hologram was the special effects production house Digital Domain and AV concepts were responsible for projecting Tupacs image onto the stage.

CBS reported that Digital Domain were also responsible for the transformation of Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

The company’s president, Nick Smith told MTV that it took several months of planning and four months of studio time to create the hologram.

Chief creative officer of Digital Domain, El Ulbrich told the Wall Street Journal that Tupac’s image was completely digital.

But some of what we saw, the jumping, dancing and waving, had to have come from previous footage from when he was alive right? Well apparently not.

“This is not found footage. This is not archival footage. This is an illusion,” Ulbrich told the Journal.

On their website AV Concepts said, “Utilizing the Musion Eyeliner system, the 302 x 132 screen was customized by AV Concepts to descend onto the stage in mere seconds between sets of the performance to bring the infamous, deceased singer back to life.

“The most critical technical element was AV Concepts’ proprietary Liquid Scenic server that delivered uncompressed media for 3 stacked 1920 x 1080 images, delivering 54,000 lumens of incredibly clear projected imagery.”

For those of you who just had that go straight over their heads it basically means they used a foil screen that reflected images from high-definition video projectors.

However one Ethan Smith form The Wall Street Journal writes that it wasn’t a hologram but rather a technology that is quite simple and is commonly called Pepper’s Ghost from the 19^th Century.

This illusion trick was used in theatres and involved two rooms, a reflective pane of glass and special lighting techniques to make ghost appear and disappear.

So what Smith is implying that either they had a Tupac actor dancing around below the stage, they probably (going against what Ulbrich said) used archived footage.

But despite how it was done, whether it was cutting edge holographic technology or an old stage theatre trick, it was awesome!

Calling all artists, designers and photographers, we want your work!

As you might have heard, this year we will be focusing on the content of our website.  And a big part of that will be giving you the chance to exhibit your work on our website. We know how hard it can be to get recognised and to get your stuff out there, so we would like to be a step in helping you on the way to the top.

If you think you are quite savvy with a paintbrush or whatever your tool might be; we would love to showcase your pieces of art and /or designs. And just to get you into the spirit of things we are running a competition where the winning artist and art work will feature on the Creative Drinks website.

The theme of the competition is “Creative Spaces”. This “space” can be anywhere and everywhere. Show us where you like to go to get creative juices flowing or where you go to create. It could even be a space that you think is creative. Whatever it is, make sure it leaves us amazed.

The winner will have a featured artist spot on our website, which will include a mini biography, interview and exhibition of additional artworks.  Further, the winning piece will be the cover photo for the Creative Drinks Facebook page for the month of June.

All entries will be showcased on the Creative Drinks gallery.

You can enter by posting a photo of your artwork on our Facebook page and you can submit as many artworks as you like.  Make sure you include a short blurb about your piece and why it reflects the theme of “Creative Spaces”.

The closing date for submissions will be May 31, 2012.

Good luck!