Our talented friend and studio mate Benja Harney  is one of the most creative and talented people we know. He’s a paper engineer. Benja makes mesmerising artworks purely out of paper. He’s been at his craft for a great many number of his years, and has produced art for the likes of some of the worlds biggest brands and personalities. We love sharing a studio with Benja – and you can probably guess why.

 
See more of Benja’s work on his portfolio.

Thank you to the fantastic creative video series Slashies for the insight into Benja’s world.

PS. We’ll be showcasing more of our friends a few times a month through this new category.

Catherina Unger

We are proud to present the 9th installment of A Handsome Mixtape put together by the ever-amazing Frames. Each month we’ll showcase an amazing young DJ whose tunes are something special – they’re all ridiculously talented, unbelievably cool and will have you breaking out your best dance moves in an instant. Read on to see Frames’ interview.

We’r e loving this mix. What was the inspiration behind it?
A massive storm hit Sydney on Sunday night alongside my head enduring of a pretty ferocious hangover. The air was heavy with humidity inside our dense inner city terrace and all I wanted was to lose myself in some sort of mediocre light-hearted rom-com or bumbling jewel thief caper (come to think of it, After The Sunset with Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek would have done just fine).
Bam! The window in the lounge was gushing water, flooding the floor and soaking the TV and other various other lounge-room electronics along with my plans for the evening. So I got myself some gin, some beers and my broken-and-in-dire-need-of-a-service turntables and played some records to suit the mood.

It’s a balmy summer house mix done live in my living room while we struggled to stop our roof from leaking and keep water off the power boards. It’s not perfect, but in a way it endears itself more so to me this way. There is heaps of amazing Australian tunes (I’m a huge supporter/believer in local talent), an exclusive or two and a remix of mine in this mix as well.

When did you first get the music bug?
Not sure… Young, definitely. I’ve just always loved music wanted to be involved with it in as many ways as possible.

Currently I’ve got my fingers in a bunch of pies with writing and producing music, DJing, my radio show (every week on FBi 94.5fm in Sydney), my weekly club night at FBi Social in Kings Cross, working closely with a very exciting emerging band (aBillion – www.soundcloud.com/abillion) and working during the week at Central Station Records/Ministry of Sound. Plus a few other projects here and there I cant say too much about just yet.

What music did your parents play?
Records. They didn’t really own many CDs. I followed suit (and stole most of their record collection – albums from Chic, Bowie, Floyd, Beach Boys, K.C & The Sunshine Band, etc).

Who would you like to play with in the future?
No one in particular so long as the party is great. I love interesting parties the most – on a boat or in a park. In a warehouse or on a rooftop. In a laneway or by a pool. Outside, underground or up high… Anywhere new, exciting or different. A good soundsystem and an open minded crowd. And maybe Soul Clap is playing.

What’s the next big thing in music?
Here’s hoping it’s taste.

Any cool collaborations coming up?
There’s a fair bit in the pipeline for me at the moment – I’ve been working hard for months but haven’t had much of a chance to put anything out of late due to record label politics.

There are forthcoming remixes for James Curd, Polographia, Lancelot, and Sirena (a new project from Mario Bassanov) plus a few more on a variety of labels all due out in next few months.

Then I’m working on some new original music with a vocalist from the US called J-Dub (who does soulful, ranty-style spoken word lyrics) and finishing tracks with friends such as Lancelot and Max Smart. Plus some new edits for the dance floor..

Is fashion important to music and vice versa?
Like it or loathe it they’re pretty intricately intertwined. Though lots of girls are into fashion there’s nothing that impresses me more than a girl with a defined, knowledgeable taste in music.

Do you prefer your ladies in a bikini or a one-piece?
This is often debated in my house and I have to say I’m definitely a one-piece man. Nothing wrong with a great bikini but it’s a class act when you pull off a great one-piece.

What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you at a gig?
The impromptu pants-off party at FBi Social a few months back was pretty fun. There’s a video somewhere on my collaborative household tumblr. Having said that though, pants-down DJing seems to be becoming a pretty regular occurrence whenever I’m playing at with my mate Felix Lloyd.

What do you think is the one quality that makes a DJ great?
Technical wizardry helps, but the only thing that really matters is track selection. And I love someone who takes chances on exciting and new music.

How would you describe your self and your style in three words?
Talks too much.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
There’s an amazing quote from Ira Glass that inspires me – google ‘Ira Glass’ and ‘Nobody tells this to beginners’. It’s applicable to every form of artistic output.

What’s your signature drink?
I’m a simple man who likes almost any beer that isn’t VB.

Tracklisting:
Perseus – Russian Girlfriends
Architecture in Helsinki – Escapee (Frames Remix)
Tornado Wallace – Insect Overlords
Jimmy Edgar – Hot Sharp Touch
Death On The Balcony – Cruel Banana
MAM – Reel Sweet
Art Department – We Call Love ft. Soul Clap & Osunlade (DJ Harvey Remix)
Fantastic Man – Look This Way
Miguel Campbell – Something Special
Infinity Ink – Games
Storm Queen – It Goes On
Danny Daze & Young Edits – Million
Mark E – Call Me (Tensnake Remix)
Polographia – Righteous Hit

If you like the mix as much as we do, then check out Frames’ Facebook soundcloud, twitter or tune into his radio show on FBi (94.5 fm Sydney) on Saturday nights, live from FBi Social in Kings Cross, Sydney.

Bonus: Snare a free download of a remix Frames knocked out of Kylie Minogue with friend and collaborator Felix Lloyd – one to get you sweating on the dance floor – http://soundcloud.com/framesmusic/slow-frames-and-felix-lloyd

Rose Smith by Carlotta Moye for Madison Magazine.

A. Skillz & Krafty Kuts – Tricka Technology

Phoenix at The Enmore Theater – 2010. By Jeremy Somers

Not much is better than seeing Raquel Zimmermann flirtily prance around in new season resort wear on a location, as chosen by her, 220 miles off the coast of Brazil – particularly when you’re in the middle of a blizzard in the northern hemisphere quite far from my Sydney home.


In love with this Stella McCartney cape


Photos: Angelo Panetta for T Magazine

Photographer – Charles Newbury
Hair/Makeup – Annika Bowen
Model – Laura-Jane Corker

We are proud to present the next installment of The Handsome Project. Each month we’ll showcase an amazing young photographer who blows our minds, shoots our stuff and is all together fantastic. Read on to see the rest of Charles’ WAH photoshoot and interview!

How did you get to here? (What’s your photographer history?)
I’ve always had a natural curiosity for images. This lead me to video and from there photography.

Are you a self-taught photographer or did you have a mentor/teacher that showed you the ropes?
I’m a self taught photographer and learn from the worlds best photographers and their different styles

How did you come up with the concept behind your Handsome Project shoot?
I believe that the location should compliment the garments and suit the style of the brand.

What keeps you enthused in the photography industry?
Creativity

Describe your approach in three words.
Unique, Creative, Determine

Black & white or colour?
Depending on the project

Do you prefer film or digital? Why?
I originally learnt on film but digital is easier and more universal

Favourite camera?
Canon 5dmkii

Describe your photographic approach.
Unique, Creative, Determined

Favourite photographer?
Mario Testino

What turns you on?
Music Photography, Fashion Photography, Portrait Photography

What turns you off?
Senseless nudity in photos

How do you decide on locations & subjects for your shoots?
Location for me is foremost as I’m always wanting to create different looking images. I attempt to match the model with the product and to match the location

If you could take your photography in any direction without fear of failure or rejection, where would it lead? What new things would you try?
To photograph more people to help my understanding of the relationship between the subject and myself

Best advice you’ve ever received.
The day after shooting a concert, An international recording artist emailed me saying
“Awesome photos, love them!!”

What is the one quality you think is needed for a photographer to be great?
A different approach

Where to next?
As Buzz lightyear said “To Infinity and Beyond”

You can also find Charles’ work on Facebook, so check it out!

We would like to applaud Charles for the gorgeous shoot he put together! You captured a smouldering beachy vibe to the shoot that we completely adore. The last shot of the Anchorage Leggings is definitely a fave!