short letters about community
I've been lucky to be a part of some communities over the last few years. I want to write this short, slice of life letter about these communities and how they have brought me joy and connection.
pat & gig photography
I met Pat at a screamo gig at the Petersham Bowling Club in 2024. Pat was taking photos with a film camera, something I dreamt of doing one day. Somehow, I mustered the energy and approached Pat during a set break at this gig. I am so happy that I did because he shaped how I viewed live music, writing, and photography and inspired me to create and give back.
He's always the kindest, warmest person in the room. I remember when I started he helped me with so many of my questions on getting started. He encourages and nurtures others. You'll always find him cheering for you at your every endeavour, creative or otherwise.
I now take my camera nearly to every local gig I go to and document what I see and hear. I have written things about music as a result and have also felt so close to the various music and creative scenes that are present in eora/sydney.
I now have all (I think) of Pat's zines with me as a reminder of all the gigs that have been made possible by community and frozen in time as proof that this shit matters to people all around us. These are crucially important publications, documenting the amazing musicians and DIYers that fuel our creative communities.
Have a look at his photography and zines here <3
sydneymusic.net
I think this community is what started it all for me. When I was looking to find connection and belonging in live music, I was fortunate enough to be around when sydneymusic.net started. I've probably seen at least a hundred aussie artists that I would never have without SM. Grassroots, a common cause, and giving a shit about your community is what SM embodies, and without them, I would have faded into the background, only consuming, and missing out on what actually makes cities move foward - local, raw, & DIY indepedent music and art.
post rock friends
My first musical love was post-rock. The people I meet at post-rock gigs are some of the most dedicated and inspiring people I've ever met. Ever since seeing some of the same folks at various gigs and striking conversations (some coming down from interstate!), we now have a small group chat. This is where we keep track on gigs, talk about all things heavy music, and organise stuff together whenever we're around in our respective states. We often influence each other to make slightly expensive decisions in gig attendance as well :-D .
This group inspired me to make my first interstate trip to see a band last year and just last week, I also saw We Lost The Sea in naarm/melbourne. It's such a magical experience to do this. I'd never have done this without meeting other people so visibly passionate about music. This is the joy of live music culture. Thanks Andrea, Char, David, and Fliq for being such great post-rock friends!
Please enjoy this acronym we made out of a typo: Wnjou = Waves of Noise Journey Over Us.
au.skramz.directory
Skramz/screamo has been super close to my heart. It's a community that's DIY at its heart and is resurging as it rightly should. Recently, a bunch of skramz nerds gathered on a discord server AusMusic Discord and whipped up a database of collective skramz knowledge. We then vibe coded up a website and a guestbook and put it live. It's been the best feeling immortalising bands and memories of gigs where people were there and I was there and we all felt and experienced beautiful and emotional things together!