SOUND, STYLE, SCENE

Step into the kaleidoscopic world of Micah Jey


By Tsk Tsk

Step into the kaleidoscopic world of Micah Jey, an artist whose signature visual flair and eclectic musical tapestry paint a vivid canvas within the bustling cultural milieu of Eora. In this exclusive conversation, Micah takes us on a journey that unravels the depths of her artistic psyche—exploring her inspirations drawn from historical art movements like Surrealism and the pulsating beats of psychedelic rock and trip hop. Amidst the discussion, she shares a trove of local talents, from Meena Maxwell’s multifaceted artistry to the soulful melodies of Ellen Soffe and the vintage aesthetic curated by Lara from @trailerparktrashvintage. Join us on an exploration that delves beyond the surface, uncovering the collaborative heart pulsating at the core of Micah's artistic realm


★ SOUND ★

Hey Micah, thanks for joining us. Straight off the bat you have such a unique visual style, what historical artistic, musical movements are you interested in and bring inspiration to your practice.

Thank you, I’m inspired by a myriad of visual influences but at the forefront is Surrealism. I feel fuelled by a curiosity for the subconscious mind and unlocking inner thoughts, emotions or desires. I’m drawn to the idea of challenging our regular programming and finding beauty in strange and unexpected places. For music I have been influenced by the psychedelic rock movement and also the trip hop era, again its that notion of straying from the norm sonically. In psychedelic rock you feel teleported to a place that feels far away, the swirling sounds and effects that suck you inside a vortex. With trip hop I love the idea of repurposing sounds, samples and genres to reimagine something new like collaging, I really resonate with that and it's something I enjoy doing in my songwriting and visual art practices.

For your newest track ‘Honey Be’ you sight influences from Portishead, Saâda Bonaire & FKA Twigs. Tell us a little bit about your musical journey with this track?

Honey Be began really simply, I remember sitting on my laptop on the dining table and singing some melodies over a basic drum beat I made from samples. It started off slow and spacious but evolved to become the trip that it is now. I recorded my best friend Timi on guitar and Marcos on bass in my home studio, then asked Pax to lay down a trumpet solo for the bridge. I arranged and produced all of these layers as well as my recorded vocals and synth lines then I embedded some field recordings I took during a magical mushroom trip in the park with some dear friends. It then went to another friend Murray to be mixed, who also added some extra production by using real drum machines to replace some of the samples and then it was sent off to a mastering engineer in France, Alex Gopher. There are a lot of little noises that only occur once throughout the song and sentimental sounds that make it feel more intimate, I wanted to transport listeners into the picnic I had and embrace them in this gooey, warm love that I felt that day for nature and my beautiful friends. 

If you could update any of our playlists with 5 tracks which playlist would it be and what additions would you make? perhaps you could make some suggestions for our trip hop/ beats playlist under the electronic section..

Saâda Bonaire - More Women

Bounds by Endogamy - Cogs

Nice Girl - The Coming

Smoke City - Underwater Love

Perishing Thirst - Traslucent

Photo: Micah Jey by Meena Maxwell, 2023

Photo Series: Micah Jey by Meena Maxwell, 2023

★ ★ STYLE ★ ★

Are there any local fashion designers, artists or musicians you have your eye on that you can recommend we check out?

Meena Maxwell is a Thai-born artist who I’ve had the pleasure of sharing an art-filled home here in Eora the last 5 years. She is a painter, graphic designer, motion maker and photographer. It’s been beautiful to watch her blossom into her expressions, she is really passionate about storytelling and infusing her cultural roots in her practice. In music I just recently came across an artist called Ellen Soffe, another Eora based creator and I love the sincerity in her voice and the undeniable warmth and intimacy in the songwriting. It makes me feel like we’re sitting together under a tree and she’s serenading me. Designer wise, I’m a curated vintage lover and my favourite local is @trailerparktrashvintage Lara is usually at Glebe on Saturdays and she’s an absolute gem, I love her vision and aesthetic.

Photo: Micah Jey by Meena Maxwell, 2023

Photo Series: Micah Jey by Meena Maxwell, 2023

★ ★ ★ SCENE ★ ★ ★

Starting with breakfast and ending with a live music event with maybe some window shopping or culture in between. What would be a perfect Saturday in your city (Sydney) with Micah Jey?

My perfect Saturday would be a breakfast in my garden with a cup of matcha, followed by journaling and then sitting on my electric guitar and feeling through the feels. Then a little antique and record store dig around Newtown near my place and at sunset I would visit Sydney Park for a picnic and bring some paints with some close friends and then head out to a live gig somewhere in Enmore or Marrickville.

Where can we catch you performing next?

Next year I will be organising a warehouse space for my EP release ‘Head Above the Clouds’ so keep an ear/eye out :)

As we draw the curtains on this captivating excursion into Micah Jey’s world, its nice to see the future she’s forging within Sydney's artistic landscape. Her musings on a perfect Saturday—imbued with matcha, journaling, eclectic music hunting, and sunset picnics—are an ode to the symbiotic relationship between her life experiences and creative manifestations. As the anticipation builds for her upcoming EP release, 'Head Above the Clouds,' and the promise of curated warehouse spaces, one thing remains crystal clear: Micah Jey stands as a lighthouse within Eora’s artistic community, a visionary whose vibrant collaborations and unbridled passion for artistic expression continue to push boundaries and illuminate the path ahead.

SOUNd, STYLE, SCENE:

Originally hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Meet the inimitable Gold Fang.

Meet the inimitable Gold Fang. Originally hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, his distinctive sound and style is inspired by a range of icons, from his father, Errol Renaud, founder of Australia's pioneering 1970s reggae band, ‘Un Tabu’, to the fashion-forward sensibilities of artists like André3000 and Damian Marley.  Since signing with Melbourne’s NLV Records in 2021, he's released seven solo albums, amassing over 5 million streams on Spotify. Adding to his impressive portfolio, he's graced the airwaves as a host on CADA radio and opened for global sensations such as Lil Nas X and Novelist. His latest track, "Move Like This," is a stylish blend influenced by the likes of Anderson .Paak and Bad Bunny. With his distinctive vocals, expansive soundscapes, and beats that could ignite any runway, Gold Fang is making his mark on the Australian music scene with finesse. We sat down to chat aesthetics, local designers worth a shout out and an ideal Saturday in Sydney. 

Your visual style is striking and unique. Can you share any historical artistic or musical movements that influence Gold Fang's aesthetic and creative approach?

This is a good question. I think that my influence comes from my dad and what they were doing back in the day. I catch myself looking in the mirror and thinking I look a lot like my dad too. I just do me, I think that’s it.

Are there any local fashion designers, artists, or musicians that you find inspiring or intriguing, and would recommend we check out?

Definitely, a couple of people that I’ve tapped into within the city, but for me, I’m personally connected to Sweet Dreams Bitter Reality. 

Photo: Gold Fang by Farnoz Shay

What would be Gold Fang's ideal Saturday in Sydney, from breakfast to a live music event, with some window shopping or cultural activities in between?

An Ideal sat huhhhh, wake up first thing first, yuh hadda shower that’s important. I’ll get maybe some pancakes or something ez, maybe go to the beach if it’s hot. On any day I can go for some reggae music but the city’s not that diverse in events like that so most times I’ll either vyb with the guys or by in the studio.

For your newest track ‘Move Like This’ you cite influences from Anderson .Paak and Bad Bunny. Tell us a little bit about your musical journey with this track?

This track was very easy to write for me as It was the second track of the day and I was already in the zone. Jarj is an amazing producer. When I heard the instrumental, I instantly started vibing and we created what is called 'Move Like This'. The track is very minimal and very spacious which is something new to me as an emcee. I think it’s the start of a brand new musical journey for me as a lot of my tracks now are more connected to feel more than anything.

As we wrap up our chat with Gold Fang, it's clear his family roots and personal journey play a big role in his music and visual style. Plugged into Sydney's scene, Gold Fang’s given a shoutout to Sweet Dreams Bitter Reality, and when it comes to talking about an ideal Saturday, it's mostly laid-back vibes, hitting the beach and maybe catching some reggae tunes. Gold Fang's definitely making waves in Sydney's art world, while staying authentic and collaborating along the way. There’s a timeless respect we fans have for artists that stay true to themselves throughout their evolution, and we’re excited to see what's next for this rising icon.

 

Sole-ful Savings: 7 Cruelty-Free Vegan Shoe Brands for Ethical Fashionistas

The global leather industry uses over a billion animal products each year to make fashion goods. The utilisation of low-cost labour, more waste, and a bigger carbon impact are all common features of the leather goods industry. However, this does not have to be the case. We found seven cruelty-free or vegan-friendly shoe brands.