Candi Auchterlonie

candi auchterlonie

what is your name?
Candi Viola Auchterlonie
how would you describe what you do?
I’m a free agent! I live a secular slightly off kilter life, quite poor; though I feel tremendously privileged to live my little frivolous lifestyle, I stay home with my son, play all day long like a child, which offers me a unique pure perspective on this ever quickening world. I get to see the world with child’s eyes, I wouldn’t trade that for any amount of wealth.

And then by night, I’m an insomniac working like a madwoman on my writing.
I mostly write adult contemporary poetry, with an emphasis on the unyielding beauty of the lessening natural world surround, love and hatred in all their doctrines- fear being the recurring source from which I find most other emotions stem, I basically write about this spectrum disorder called humanity.

what are you currently working on?
My second book of poems, titled “Creation Sandbox” (pretty sure I’ll stick with that title, but it could change during the publishing process? And if so, I’ll keep everyone informed

And a couple stories I’ve been simultaneously trying my hand at, one is a children’s book, the other is a romance, both are in their intermediate stages of editing.

what has had the greatest influence on your work?
I’ve fretted and mulled myself into migraines over such questions as this one; but the source of my fire is found everywhere, I find inspiration in small unseen by the common eye things, I like to slow down and write about what I see in just everyday things, extraordinary moments found in ordinary existence. I write about people- their stories, love, children, nature, philosophy.

But my love, truthfully- is autumn, I’ve always been so drawn to autumn, it is so easy to be swept away in autumns’ endless metaphors flurrying around us, it’s necessary death to become born again, it’s eternal and annual falling in love, fervent passion, the cold “denials”, nurture versus nature, the smouldering colours tiled against the abysmal slate grey’s above, it’s fall, and it’s eventual rise.

And I would be lying if I said that my influence stopped there, my teacher’s, the many living and dead writers I idolize have certainly branded me with their voices. I would lie if I said that Jelaluddin Rumi, did not have a spell over my soul, heart and mind.

what is the greatest misconception about you or your work?
The greatest misconception about me, would be that I’m not a fighter; some might think at first glance, but I most certainly am.

I take everything in, and take from it something constructive to try and better myself and my writing, hard critiques from people who disliked my work, or people who feel the necessitative need to impose their advice or viewpoints on what one is doing “wrong” with their lives, or my life, I take what I can from it, and slough off the rest, and keep true to myself, I’m very strong willed, with a strong sense of self, and purpose.

what do you see as the main strengths and weaknesses of the medium you work in?
My strength is my perspective I bring, I feel my writing style and voice are unique; and on the flipside, I think my weakness, sometimes can be my use of description and imagery, and the length of my pieces can tend to be rather long, so I am working on getting out of my comfort zone, and have tried my hand at some new topics to write of, and have showcased some shorter pieces to show my ability to be versatile, and learn new techniques and methods, while still staying true to my voice.

how has technology impacted upon the work you do?
In every conceivable way entirely, it has definitely been a tool not a burden, I think that their are some misconceptions out there about technology destroying writing, and I admit I even was one of those who romanticized writing as a sacred thing that should be kept separate from this commercial/technical age, but some of my closest writer friends- from all reaches of this world, my muses, and my connections to the literary world have been through the internet, I shudder to think what I would be this day, without all of them.

what’s the greatest piece of advice you would like to pass on?
Keep your tunnel vision; stay focussed on what fires you, live for aspiring to that, find a way.

where can we find you online?
http://www.erbacce-press.com

http://www.erbacce-press.com/#/candi-v-auchterlonie/4536537954

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=417560459

http://home.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=517723240

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=517723240#/pages/Candi-V-Auchterlonie-Poetry/134555493230

http://www.candivauchterloniepoetry.blogspot.com/

what are you reading at the moment?
Susan Minot “4am”, and Eugenio Montale “collected works”

what are you listening to at the moment?

My faves’ playlist:

Andrew Byrd “Anonanimal”, Damien Rice “Volcano”, ColdPlay “Strawberry Swing & Warning Sign”,
Death Cab for Cutie “Bixby Canyon Bridge”

anything else we should know?
Nothing comes to mind.

[Via http://intoviews.wordpress.com]

An Interview with Planet Fiction

 

Planet Fiction are a Brisbane based, self proclaimed ‘Hard Rock’ band who have been out on the local scene for about 2 years building up their fan base and working on their first EP.  There are four of the somewhat mysterious fellows who make one hell of a sound on stage and then contradictingly step off at the end of the set to have a quiet drink in the smokers area looking nonchalant.  Adam is on lead vocals, Paw is on lead guitar, Gruff is on bass and Kelvin works the drums.

I asked Planet Fiction a few questions after seeing them at a gig for the second time and wanting a little more than just photographs.

So guys, the name, Planet Fiction, why?
Adam: I was watching He-Man: Master Of the Universe and thought the name “Eternia” would be cool, it’s a Planet in the movie.  I was describing it to Paw as a fictional planet and he said “Why not Planet Fiction”.
Paw: It also has some other meanings we’ve discovered, like if you get really hammered you could wind up on “Planet Fiction”.   Also relating it to earth, how stuff here can seem real but it’s in fact fake as f*ck.

You guys seem to be great friends as well as band members, how do you all know each other?
Paw: We all woke up naked on a hammock one morning in New Guinea.  It’s actually a front, we all hate each others guts and we wish we never met.

You initially had another drummer, (whom they claim to have left back in that hammok in PNG), Kelvin you have been with them for about 9 months now, do you feel/have you felt like you have someone elses shoes to fill?
Kelvin: Not really, we started on a bit of a new sound right away, so I bought my feel to the band.

Adam, have you had any voice training?  ‘Cause you belt that shit out there, ever scared of ruining your voice?
Adam: I’ve had a few singing lessons, the tutor said my throat’s nice and intact so no worries at all!  I’ll be doing it as long as I can.

What do you think of the growing Brisbane music scene?
Paw: It’s good!  Could be better… Less dance, more rock. It’s defiantly coming along though, very exciting.

Do you think Brisbane is aware of/fans of the metal scene?
Adam:  When you’re out there amongst it for so long, you realise how huge it is.

How do you find Brisbane audiences?
Gruff:  Pretty tame towards unknown bands, but the same as anywhere else in the world, they go off tap towards bands they know and love.

If you could play a headline gig anywhere in Brisbane, where would you want to make your noise?
Paw: The Tivoli, but right now, realistically speaking, The Globe or The Zoo.

Which local bands would you choose to support you at this headline gig?
Adam:  Damasyria, we’ve done a few shows with those boys and they’re always good fun and write good shit. In a perfect world Melodessy, Butterfly Effect or Mammal!

Can you see a future for your band, how do you forsee your band ending up?
Gruff:  Rehab or locked up for us 3… Kelvin will probably be a priest.

Who are your influences?  Are you the type of guys who only listen to your genre, or can we catch you chilling out to Neil Young on the weekends?
Adam: I defiantly don’t listen to only our genre, I like punk, rock, a little bit of rap, some pop?  I’m a huge fan of Finch, Refused, A Day To Remember… I will only list a few!
Paw:  I really like Sarah Blasko and The Wiggles.
Gruff:  I’m pretty open minded when it come to music, I listen to most things.  But, my influences are Finch, Grinspoon, A Day To Remember and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Kelvin:  DYING FETUS!!!

I have heard you are making an EP, how are you doing?  When is that coming out, whats the plans?
Gruff:  We have plans to have an EP ready soon, but as for dates etc, that’s undecided. We feel we have a lot more work to do on it.

I reviewed you last year at X&Y, someone left an unsavoury message on the post declaring your music to be ’shit’.  How did that make you feel to hear something like that? 
Gruff:  Tracked the c*nt down, slit his neck…
Paw: And took a sh*t down it. We’re pretty cool now.

I guess when you are first on the music scene, negative comments can drag you down, but at the end of the day it means people are listening.  Do you feel like it impacted on you negatively as a band?
Kelvin: No, not at all, it’s going happen a lot more in the future, you have to take it on the chin.  It only bettered us.

Who writes the lyrics?
Gruff: Mainly Adam, there’s a few tracks Paw has written and I’ve had a bit of input too.

What is one song that defines who you are as a band?
Adam: If it’s one of ours, probably ‘Now That It’s All Gone’, because it samples a bit of everything we do.  If it’s someone else’s, ‘Afro Man – Because I Got High’.

If you are a fan of hard rock/metal and like it loud, check out Planet Fiction on MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/planetfictionband

[Via http://livereviews.wordpress.com]