When someone asks you "What do you do?", how do you explain yourself?

I say I am an artist, actor, writer, DJ/selector but primarily I am a kept man.


What creative mediums do you use to express yourself?

Having four "hobbies" I am able to move between them as my creativity dictates. The glass thing is like the most disciplined and the writing is the most "loose". Playing tunes on the radio is just the coolest release and acting, which I am fairly new to is an exciting form of make-believe.


What have you been doing for the last six months and what plans do you have for the next six?

I have been developing my technique for making glass bowls with kilos worth of molten glass and have reached a new level with them which is really turning me on. My acting has been getting stronger and stronger and I have begun to see myself quite clearly and critically and feel good at what I am achieving. My first story for film "The Rapists" (view trailer) which I have had made and co-star in has come to screen via acceptance into the Australian Short Film Festival which is a great confidence booster. I have sold my first screenplay to the current "girl to watch" Roseanne Lang and have had my second story published in No. Magazine. I have gained the respect from my fellow DJ's for my sets and rocked the party to about 400 hip, bright young things at the party for the fourth edition of No. Magazine.


Why do you make art?

Not really sure, it just happens and I try not to think about it. I just do it.


How did you get into glass? What about it do you find so alluring?

The local dope grower asked me if I wanted to be involved in his glass project. I knew nothing about glass at all but figured I'd get to smoke a lot of dope. I just love the alchemy of it, from a molten fluid that you lead into a fixed form, magic.


You wrote and acted in a short film last year, which got accepted into some festivals. How did that go?

It was an incredible experience and proved once again to myself that I have a unique take on things. It was a black comedy called "The Rapists" and it is the foundation from which I will continue to grow.


If you had access to a time machine, where would you go and why?

I would go forward a few thousand years just to be blown away by what we had evolved to.


What aspects of the world do you love?

The natural beauty that surrounds us.


What aspects of the world do you dislike?

Nothing really, it's all connected so all the "shit" has a point to it.


Who do you consider your major influences?

My mum foremost, she gave me the right tools to make a good life. Brian Eno for being the first non-musician to make awesome music, the first real punk. The writers Jerzy Kosinski, Charles Bukowski, Bruce Chatwin and Ian M Banks.


Can you recommend one book or writer, one band or musician, one movie and a visual artist you think are worth sharing?

Writer: Charles Bukowski - Women
Musician: Brian Eno - Another Green World
Movie - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Visual artist: Jackson Pollock - Full Fathom Five



Can you recount your last interesting dream?

Last week, an epic that seemed to span many many years that involved the planet breaking up into separate wheels/slices that moved at different speeds. I remember standing in a river while the land from the river bank to some further point moved/rotated quite fast compared to the piece I was on. Very cool.



What did/do you teach your kids?

Be honest, be positive and believe in yourself.

Describe your personality in five bullet points:

- Positive: Everything can be used for the greater good of the journey.
- Humorous: Laughter is the best medicine
- Open: Bring it on.
- Intelligent: I surprise people with this one
- Sensitive: I know when people need. I give if it's possible.

What simple changes (if any) would you like to see in the way people of the 'developed world' think?

Complete religious/spiritual tolerance would change humanity incredibly. The "my god is the only way" has got us into deep shit throughout history and continues unabated.

What makes you laugh?

I do, I am a funny motherfucker.

Do you have any opinions on the relationship between drugs and creativity?

Well throughout history they are inextricably mixed together. All races have some form of drug that they use for escape into and out of reality. Not abusing them is the trick.

You had a brief but successful stint in the New Zealand music scene, can you tell us about it?

A song that I wrote and recorded made it to no. 6 on the BFm top 13. Flying Nun gave me money to record demoss but in the end someone stole all my music gear so I took it as a sign ad walked away from it. Music is my great love and informs all aspects of my life. I have been fortunate to feel the buzz of being on stage and to be locked into the groove. Awesome.



Favourite Poet?

Charles Bukowski - Tells it as it is.



Have you written and poetry lately? If so can you please share one:

Yes I Have.

In the dark
I worship
you
an even darker ship
than I

I met you
never thinking
that you meant
what you said
but you
did

I left an impression
of ourselves
in the smart
horizon
always
too close
to check
yourself.



What do you love about New Zealand?

Besides the natural beauty and its geographical distance from the rest of the civilised world. I love the no. 8 wire mentality that we have. Nothing is too great that it can't be overcome. We are the new people.

You spent a lot of time on the west coast. What elements of living out of the city did you enjoy the most?

It was initially the rough lawlessness of the place and the wild bunch of people that had gravitated there, but in the end that was the reason why I left. The sheer beauty of the place will always live within me.


What kind of people are you drawn to?

People who believe in themselves and don't believe in being "victims".


You have a show on K FM: Random Plug

I live for my weekly show on K. I am constantly challenged to bring the sound as best I can. K FM is the future of radio, ask anyone who listens. We are the bomb.


Goals for 2009?

I want a bigger role than usual on Shortland Street. I want Peter Jackson to hire me again for a role in one of his movies. I want to write another great script like "The Rapists" and "Hot Chocolate". I want to grow stronger in my ability to take drugs and drink alcohol and not become their slave. I want to "rock the party" at a couple of choice events (as a DJ/Selector)


Last thing that gave you goosebumps?

The world premiere of "The Rapists"


What advice would you give young creatives?

Find your voice. Believe in it and back yourself. You are the best version of you on the planet.


What is success to you?

Being able to do what you want.


One pearl of wisdom off the top of your head.

Treat people the way you want people to treat you, coz that's what's happening.


How do you want to be remembered?

As someone whose company you really enjoyed.